Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides non-aqueous inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more protectants and a non-aqueous liquid carrier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/066,352 filed Jun. 27, 2018, pending, which is a 35 U.S.C. 371national application of international application no. PCT/US2016/067714filed Dec. 20, 2016, which claims priority or the benefit under 35U.S.C. 119 of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 62/271,85, 62/296,798 and62/400,782 filed Dec. 28, 2015, Feb. 18, 2016 and Sep. 28, 2016,respectively, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein byreference.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The inventive concepts described herein were developed as part a jointresearch agreement between Monsanto Company and Novozymes BioAg A/S. Theactivities giving rise to the claimed invention were undertaken withinthe scope of the joint research agreement, said agreement having been ineffect on or before the date the claimed invention was made.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for enhancingthe stability and survival of microbial spores in inoculantcompositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inoculant compositions comprising agriculturally beneficialmicroorganisms are well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.5,484,464; 5,586,411; 5,695,541; 5,804,208; 5,916,029; 6,569,425;6,808,917; 6,824,772; 7,429,477; 8,148,138; 8,278,247; 8,445,256;8,883,679; 8,921,089; 8,999,698; 9,017,442; 9,101,088; 9,234,251;9,340,464.

Because the effectiveness of such inoculant compositions generallydepends on the ability of the microorganisms therein to survive andpropagate following application, much effort has been made to increasethe stability of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms in inoculantcompositions. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,132 (describing a method ofadding trehalose, sucrose or glycerol to the substantially stationaryphase of fermentation) and U.S. Pat. No. 9,090,884 (describing themicroencapsulation of microorganisms in a water-soluble encapsulatingmaterial).

Nevertheless, there remains a need for improved compositions and methodsfor enhancing the stability and survival of microorganisms in inoculantcompositions.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

The present disclosure provides stable inoculant compositions andmethods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial sporesin inoculant compositions.

A first aspect of the present disclosure is a non-aqueous inoculantcomposition comprising Penicillium spores, one or more dispersants, oneor more protectants and a non-aqueous liquid carrier. In someembodiments, the inoculant composition comprises one or more pesticides,one or more lipo-chitooligosaccharides, one or morechitooligosaccharides, one or more chitinous compounds, one or moreflavonoids and/or one or more drying agents.

A second aspect of the present disclosure is a coated plant propagationmaterial comprising a plant propagation material and a coating thatcovers at least a portion of an outer surface of the plant propagationmaterial, said coating comprising a non-aqueous inoculant composition ofthe present disclosure.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is a kit comprising a coatedplant propagation material of the present disclosure and a containerhousing the coated plant propagation material.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a plant germinated from acoated plant propagation material of the present disclosure.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a plant part harvested froma plant that was germinated from a coated plant propagation material ofthe present disclosure.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is a processed product derivedfrom a plant that was germinated from a coated plant propagationmaterial of the present disclosure.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a crop comprising aplurality of plants germinated from coated plant propagation materialsof the present disclosure.

An eighth aspect of the present disclosure is a method that comprisesapplying a non-aqueous inoculant composition of the present disclosureto a plant propagation material.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure is a method that comprises,consists essentially of or consisting of planting a coated plantpropagation material of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the survivability of Bacillusamyloliquifaciens TJ100 spores in non-aqueous inoculant compositionsstored at 20° C. or 40° C.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the survivability of Penicillium bilaiaespores on corn seeds stored at 10° C. and 50% relative humidity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is explained in greater detail below. Thisdescription is not intended to be a detailed catalog of all thedifferent ways in which the invention may be implemented or of all thefeatures that may be added to the instant invention. For example,features illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be incorporatedinto other embodiments and features illustrated with respect to aparticular embodiment may be deleted from that embodiment. In addition,numerous variations and additions to the various embodiments suggestedherein, which do not depart from the instant invention, will be apparentto those skilled in the art in light of the instant disclosure. Hence,the following specification is intended to illustrate some particularembodiments of the invention and not to exhaustively specify allpermutations, combinations and variations thereof.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the specification and relevant art and should not beinterpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly sodefined herein. For the sake of brevity and/or clarity, well-knownfunctions or constructions may not be described in detail.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Thus, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “amaltodextrin” is to be interpreted as “one or more maltodextrins,” “amicroorganism” is to be interpreted as “one or more microorganisms,” “alipo-chitooligosaccharide” is to be interpreted as “one or morelipo-chitooligosaccharides,” etc.

As used herein, the term “about,” when used in reference to a measurablevalue such as an amount of mass, dose, time, temperature and the like,is meant to encompass variations of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.5%,2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%,14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19% or 20% of the specified amount. Unlessotherwise indicated, all numerical values in the specification are to beunderstood as being modified by the term “about.”

As used herein, the term “agriculturally beneficial agent” refers to anyagent (e.g., chemical or biological agent) or combination of agents theapplication of which causes or provides a beneficial and/or usefuleffect in agriculture including, but not limited to, agriculturallybeneficial microorganisms, biostimulants, nutrients, pesticides (e.g.,fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides) and plant signalmolecules.

As used herein, the term “agriculturally beneficial microorganism”refers to a microorganism having at least one agriculturally beneficialproperty (e.g., the ability to fix nitrogen, the ability to solubilizephosphate and/or the ability to produce an agriculturally beneficialagent, such as a plant signal molecule).

As used herein, the term “agriculturally acceptable carrier” refers to amaterial that can be used to deliver an agriculturally beneficial agentto a plant, plant part or plant growth medium (e.g., soil). As usedherein, the term “soil-compatible carrier” refers to a material that canbe added to a soil without causing/having an unduly adverse effect onplant growth, soil structure, soil drainage, or the like. As usedherein, the term “seed-compatible carrier” refers to a material that canbe added to a seed without causing/having an unduly adverse effect onthe seed, the plant that grows from the seed, seed germination, or thelike. As used herein, the term “foliar-compatible carrier” refers to amaterial that can be added to a plant or plant part withoutcausing/having an unduly adverse effect on the plant, plant part, plantgrowth, plant health, or the like.

As used herein, the term “and/or” is intended to include any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well asthe lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

As used herein, the term “aqueous” refers to a composition that containsmore than a trace amount of water (i.e., more than 1% water by weight,based upon the total weight of the composition).

As used herein, the term “biostimulant” refers to an agent orcombination of agents the application of which enhances one or moremetabolic and/or physiological processes of a plant or plant part (e.g.,carbohydrate biosynthesis, ion uptake, nucleic acid uptake, nutrientdelivery, photosynthesis and/or respiration).

As used herein, the term “colony forming unit” refers to a microbialcell/spore capable of propagating on or in a substrate (e.g., a soil)when conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, pH,etc.) are favorable for microbial growth.

As used herein, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,”“include,” “includes” and “including” specify the presence of statedfeatures, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps,operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “consists essentially of” (and grammaticalvariants thereof), as applied to the compositions and methods of thepresent disclosure, means that the compositions/methods may containadditional components so long as the additional components do notmaterially alter the composition/method. The term “materially alter,” asapplied to a composition/method, refers to an increase or decrease inthe effectiveness of the composition/method of at least about 20% ormore. For example, a component added to an inoculant composition of thepresent disclosure “materially alters” the composition if it increasesor decreases the composition's ability to enhance microbial survival byat least about 50%.

As used herein, the term “diazotroph” refers to an organism capable ofconverting atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into a form that may be utilized bya plant or plant part (e.g., ammonia (NH₃), ammonium (NH₄+), etc.).

As used herein, the terms “effective amount,” “effective concentration,”and “effective dosage” (and grammatical variants thereof) refer to anamount, concentration or dosage that is sufficient to cause a desiredeffect (e.g., enhanced microbial survival). The absolute value of theamount/concentration/dosage that is sufficient to cause the desiredeffect may be affected by factors such as the type and magnitude ofeffect desired, the type, size and volume of seeds to which theinoculant composition will be applied, the stability of themicroorganisms in the inoculant composition and the storage conditions(e.g., temperature, relative humidity, duration). Those skilled in theart will understand how to select an effectiveamount/concentration/dosage using routine dose-response experiments.

As used herein, the term “enhanced dispersion” refers to an improvementin one or more characteristics of microbial dispersion as compared toone or more controls (e.g., a control composition that is identical toan inoculant composition of the present disclosure except that it lacksone or more of the components found in the inoculant composition of thepresent disclosure). Exemplary microbial dispersion characteristicsinclude, but are not limited to, the percentage of microbes that existas single cells/spores when the inoculant composition is diluted inwater. An inoculant composition that improves one or more microbialdispersion characteristics of the microorganism(s) contained therein ascompared to a control composition (e.g., a control composition that isidentical to the inoculant composition except that it lacks one or moreof the components found in the inoculant composition) provides enhanceddispersion and can be referred to as a “readily dispersable inoculantcomposition.”

As used herein, the terms “enhanced growth” and “enhanced plant growth”refer to an improvement in one or more characteristics of plant growthand/or development as compared to one or more control plants (e.g., aplant germinated from an untreated seed or an untreated plant).Exemplary plant growth/development characteristics include, but are notlimited to, biomass, carbohydrate biosynthesis, chlorophyll content,cold tolerance, drought tolerance, height, leaf length, leaf mass, leafnumber, leaf surface area, leaf volume, nutrient uptake (e.g., calcium,magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorous and/or potassium uptake), rate(s) ofphotosynthesis, root area, root diameter, root length, root mass, rootnodulation (e.g., nodule mass, nodule number, nodule volume), rootnumber, root surface area, root volume, salt tolerance, seedgermination, seedling emergence, shoot diameter, shoot length, shootmass, shoot number, shoot surface area, shoot volume, spread, stomatalconductance and survival rate. Unless otherwise indicated, references toenhanced plant growth are to be interpreted as meaning that compositionsand methods of the present disclosure may be capable of enhancing plantgrowth by enhancing nutrient availability, improving soilcharacteristics, etc. and are not to be interpreted as suggesting thatcompositions and methods of the present disclosure act as plant growthregulators.

As used herein, the term “enhanced stability” refers to an improvementin one or more characteristics of microbial stability as compared to oneor more controls (e.g., a control composition that is identical to aninoculant composition of the present disclosure except that it lacks oneor more of the components found in the inoculant composition of thepresent disclosure). Exemplary microbial stability characteristicsinclude, but are not limited to, the ability to cause a desired effect(e.g., enhanced plant yield and/or increased pesticidal activity) afterbeing coated on a seed and/or stored for a defined period of time andsurvival rate after being coated on a seed and/or stored for a definedperiod of time. A microorganism that exhibits improvement in one or moremicrobial stability characteristics as compared to a controlmicroorganism when each is subjected to the same conditions (e.g., seedcoating and storage conditions) displays enhanced stability and can bereferred to as a “stable microorganism.” An inoculant composition thatimproves one or more microbial stability characteristics of themicroorganism(s) contained therein as compared to a control composition(e.g., a control composition that is identical to the inoculantcomposition except that it lacks one or more of the components found inthe inoculant composition) provides enhanced stability and can bereferred to as a “stable inoculant composition.”

As used herein, the term “enhanced survival” refers to an improvement inthe survival rate of one or more microorganisms in an inoculantcomposition as compared to one or more microorganisms in a controlcomposition (e.g., a control composition that is identical to aninoculant composition of the present disclosure except that it lacks oneor more of the components found in the inoculant composition of thepresent disclosure). An inoculant composition that improves the survivalrate of one or more of the microorganisms contained therein as comparedto a control composition (e.g., a control composition that is identicalto the inoculant composition except that it lacks one or more of thecomponents found in the inoculant composition) provides enhancedsurvival and can be referred to as a stable inoculant composition.

As used herein, the terms “enhanced yield” and “enhanced plant yield”refer to an improvement in one or more characteristics of plant yield ascompared to one or more control plants (e.g., a control plant germinatedfrom an untreated seed). Exemplary plant yield characteristics include,but are not limited to, biomass; bushels per acre; grain weight per plot(GWTPP); nutritional content; percentage of plants in a given area(e.g., plot) that fail to produce grain; yield at standard moisturepercentage (YSMP), such as grain yield at standard moisture percentage(GYSMP); yield per plot (YPP), such as grain weight per plot (GWTPP);and yield reduction (YRED). Unless otherwise indicated, references toenhanced plant yield are to be interpreted as meaning that compositionsand methods of the present disclosure may be capable of enhancing plantyield by enhancing nutrient availability, improving soilcharacteristics, etc. and are not to be interpreted as suggesting thatcompositions and methods of the present disclosure act as plant growthregulators. As used herein, the term “foliage” refers to those portionsof a plant that normally grow above the ground, including, but notlimited to, leaves, stalks, stems, flowers, fruiting bodies and fruits.

As used herein, the terms “foliar application,” “foliarly applied” andgrammatical variations thereof, refer to the application of one or moreactive ingredients to the foliage of a plant (e.g., to the leaves of theplant). Application may be effected by any suitable means, including,but not limited to, spraying the plant with a composition comprising theactive ingredient(s). In some embodiments, the active ingredient(s)is/are applied to the leaves, stems and/or stalk of the plant and not tothe flowers, fruiting bodies or fruits of the plant.

As used herein, the term “glass transition temperature” and itsabbreviation “Tg” refer to the midpoint of the temperature range overwhich a composition transitions from a glassy state to a rubbery state.

As used herein, the term “glassy state” refers to an amorphous solid.

As used herein, the term “humic acid” encompasses pure humic acids andhumic acid salts (humates). Non-limiting examples of humic acids includeammonium humate, boron humate, potassium humate, sodium humate, etc. Insome embodiments, the humic acid comprises, consists essentially of orconsists of one or more of MDL Number MFCD00147177 (CAS Number1415-93-6), MDL Number MFCD00135560 (CAS Number 68131-04-4), MDL NumberMFCS22495372 (CAS Number 68514-28-3), CAS Number 93924-35-7, and CASNumber 308067-45-0.

As used herein, the terms “inoculant composition” and “inoculum” referto compositions comprising microbial cells and/or spores, saidcells/spores being capable of propagating on or in a substrate (e.g., asoil) when conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, nutrientavailability, pH, etc.) are favorable for microbial growth.

As used herein, the term “isomer” includes all stereoisomers of thecompounds and/or molecules to which it refers, including enantiomers anddiastereomers, as well as all conformers, roatmers and tautomers, unlessotherwise indicated. Compounds and/or molecules disclosed herein includeall enantiomers in either substantially pure levorotatory ordextrorotatory form, or in a racemic mixture, or in any ratio ofenantiomers. Where embodiments disclose a (D)-enantiomer, thatembodiment also includes the (L)-enantiomer; where embodiments disclosea (L)-enantiomer, that embodiment also includes the (D)-enantiomer.Where embodiments disclose a (+)-enantiomer, that embodiment alsoincludes the (−)-enantiomer; where embodiments disclose a(−)-enantiomer, that embodiment also includes the (+)-enantiomer. Whereembodiments disclose a (S)-enantiomer, that embodiment also includes the(R)-enantiomer; where embodiments disclose a (R)-enantiomer, thatembodiment also includes the (S)-enantiomer. Embodiments are intended toinclude any diastereomers of the compounds and/or molecules referred toherein in diastereomerically pure form and in the form of mixtures inall ratios. Unless stereochemistry is explicitly indicated in a chemicalstructure or chemical name, the chemical structure or chemical name isintended to embrace all possible stereoisomers, conformers, rotamers andtautomers of compounds and/or molecules depicted.

As used herein, the term “modified microbial strain” refers to amicrobial strain that is modified from a strain isolated from nature.Modified microbial strains may be produced by any suitable method(s),including, but not limited to, chemical or other form of inducedmutation to a polynucleotide within any genome within the strain; theinsertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides within any genomewithin the strain, or combinations thereof; an inversion of at least onesegment of DNA within any genome within the strain; a rearrangement ofany genome within the strain; generalized or specific transduction ofhomozygous or heterozygous polynucleotide segments into any genomewithin the strain; introduction of one or more phage into any genome ofthe strain; transformation of any strain resulting in the introductioninto the strain of stably replicating autonomous extrachromosomal DNA;any change to any genome or to the total DNA composition within thestrain isolated from nature as a result of conjugation with anydifferent microbial strain; and any combination of the foregoing. Theterm modified microbial strains includes a strain with (a) one of moreheterologous nucleotide sequences, (b) one or more non-naturallyoccurring copies of a nucleotide sequence isolated from nature (i.e.,additional copies of a gene that naturally occurs in the microbialstrain from which the modified microbial strain was derived), (c) a lackof one or more nucleotide sequences that would otherwise be present inthe natural reference strain by for example deleting nucleotidesequence, and (d) added extrachromosomal DNA. In some embodiments,modified microbial strains comprise a combination of two or morenucleotide sequences (e.g., two or more naturally occurring genes thatdo not naturally occur in the same microbial strain) or comprise anucleotide sequence isolated from nature at a locus that is differentfrom the natural locus.

As used herein, the term “non-aqueous” refers to a composition thatcomprises no more than a trace amount of water (i.e., no more than 1%water by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition).

As used herein, the term “nutrient” refers to a compound or elementuseful for nourishing a plant (e.g., vitamins, macrominerals,micronutrients, trace minerals, organic acids, etc. that are necessaryfor plant growth and/or development).

As used herein, the term “onset temperature” refers to the temperatureat which a composition begins the transition from a glassy state to arubbery state.

As used herein, the term “Penicillium bilaiae” is intended to includeall iterations of the species name, such as “Penicillium bilaji” and“Penicillium bilaii.”

As used herein, the term “pest” includes any organism or virus thatnegatively affects a plant, including, but not limited to, organisms andviruses that spread disease, damage host plants and/or compete for soilnutrients. The term “pest” encompasses organisms and viruses that areknown to associate with plants and to cause a detrimental effect on theplant's health and/or vigor. Plant pests include, but are not limitedto, arachnids (e.g., mites, ticks, spiders, etc.), bacteria, fungi,gastropods (e.g., slugs, snails, etc.), invasive plants (e.g., weeds),insects (e.g., white flies, thrips, weevils, etc.), nematodes (e.g.,root-knot nematode, soybean cyst nematode, etc.), rodents and viruses(e.g., tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV),cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), etc.).

As used herein, the terms “pesticide” and “pesticidal” refer to agentsor combinations of agents the application of which is toxic to a pest(i.e., kills a pest, inhibits the growth of a pest and/or inhibits thereproduction of a pest). Non-limiting examples of pesticides includeacaricides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides, etc.

As used herein, the term “phosphate-solubilizing microorganism” refersto a microorganism capable of converting insoluble phosphate into asoluble form of phosphate.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes all plant populations,including, but not limited to, agricultural, horticultural andsilvicultural plants. The term “plant” encompasses plants obtained byconventional plant breeding and optimization methods (e.g.,marker-assisted selection) and plants obtained by genetic engineering,including cultivars protectable and not protectable by plant breeders'rights.

As used herein, the term “plant cell” refers to a cell of an intactplant, a cell taken from a plant, or a cell derived from a cell takenfrom a plant. Thus, the term “plant cell” includes cells within seeds,suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue,leaves, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen and microspores.

As used herein, the term “plant part” refers to any part of a plant,including cells and tissues derived from plants. Thus, the term “plantpart” may refer to any of plant components or organs (e.g., leaves,stems, roots, etc.), plant tissues, plant cells and seeds. Examples ofplant parts, include, but are not limited to, anthers, embryos, flowers,fruits, fruiting bodies, leaves, ovules, pollen, rhizomes, roots, seeds,shoots, stems and tubers, as well as scions, rootstocks, protoplasts,calli and the like.

As used herein, the term “plant propagation material” refers to a plantpart from which a whole plant can be generated. Examples of plantpropagation materials include, but are not limited to, cuttings (e.g.,leaves, stems), rhizomes, seeds, tubers and cells/tissues that can becultured into a whole plant.

As used herein, the term “protectant” refers to an agent or combinationof agents the application of which enhances the survival and/orstability of a microorganism in an inoculant composition.

As used herein, the term “rubbery state” refers to an amorphous,visoelastic liquid.

As used herein, the terms “spore” and “microbial spore” refer to amicroorganism in its dormant, protected state.

As used herein with respect to inoculant compositions, the term “stable”refers to an inoculant composition in which microorganisms exhibitenhanced stability and/or enhanced survival. In general, an inoculantcomposition may be labeled “stable” if it improves the survival rateand/or at least one microbial stability characteristic of at least onemicroorganism contained therein.

As used herein with respect to microbial spores, the term “survivalrate” refers to the percentage of microbial spores that are viable(i.e., capable of propagating on or in a substrate (e.g., on a seedand/or in a soil) when conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, nutrientavailability, pH, etc.) are favorable for microbial growth) at a givenperiod of time.

While certain aspects of the present disclosure will hereinafter bedescribed with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure as defined by the claims.

All publications, patent applications, patents and other referencesmentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, exceptinsofar as they contradict any disclosure expressly set forth herein.

The present disclosure provides stable inoculant compositions andmethods for enhancing the stability and/or survival of microbial spores.

The present disclosure provides non-aqueous inoculant compositionscomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of one or moremicrobial spores and a non-aqueous carrier.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable spores(s), including, but not limited to, the spores ofagriculturally beneficial microorganisms such as diazotrophs,phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and biopesticides.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more bacteria (e.g., one or more Gram-negative bacteriaand/or one or more Gram-positive bacteria). Non-limiting examples ofbacterial spores that may be useful in compositions of the presentdisclosure include spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D747, Bacillusamyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IN937a, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT-45,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBI600,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BS27 (deposited as NRRL B-5015), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens BS2084 (deposited as NRRL B-50013), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 15AP4 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6507), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 3AP4 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6506), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens LSSA01 (deposited as NRRL B-50104), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens ABP278 (deposited as NRRL B-50634), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 1013 (deposited as NRRL B-50509), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 918 (deposited as NRRL B-50508), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 22CP1 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6508) and Bacillusamyloliquefaciens BS18 (deposited as NRRL B-50633), Bacillus cereus1-1562, Bacillus firmus 1-1582, Bacillus lichenformis BA842 (depositedas NRRL B-50516), Bacillus lichenformis BL21 (deposited as NRRLB-50134), Bacillus mycoides NRRL B-21664, Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-21662,Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-30087, Bacillus pumilus ATCC 55608, Bacilluspumilus ATCC 55609, Bacillus pumilus GB34, Bacillus pumilus KFP9F,Bacillus pumilus QST 2808, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 55078, Bacillussubtilis ATCC 55079, Bacillus subtilis MBI 600, Bacillus subtilis NRRLB-21661, Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-21665, Bacillus subtilis CX-9060,Bacillus subtilis GB03, Bacillus subtilis GB07, Bacillus subtilisQST-713, Bacillus subtilis FZB24, Bacillus subtilis D747, Bacillussubtilis 3BP5 (deposited as NRRL B-50510), Bacillus thuringiensis ATCC13367, Bacillus thuringiensis GC-91, Bacillus thuringiensis NRRLB-21619, Bacillus thuringiensis ABTS-1857, Bacillus thuringiensis SAN401 I, Bacillus thuringiensis ABG-6305, Bacillus thuringiensis ABG-6346,Bacillus thuringiensis AM65-52, Bacillus thuringiensis SA-12, Bacillusthuringiensis SB4, Bacillus thuringiensis ABTS-351, Bacillusthuringiensis HD-1, Bacillus thuringiensis EG 2348, Bacillusthuringiensis EG 7826, Bacillus thuringiensis EG 7841, Bacillusthuringiensis DSM 2803, Bacillus thuringiensis NB-125, Bacillusthuringiensis NB-176 and combinations thereof, as well as spores ofmicroorganisms having at least at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%,97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to any of the aforementioned strains onthe basis of 16S rDNA sequence identity.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more fungal spores. Non-limiting examples of fungalspores that may be useful in compositions of the present disclosureinclude spores of Gliocladium virens ATCC 52045, Gliocladium virensGL-21, Glomus intraradices RTI-801, Metarhizium anisopliae F52,Penicillium bilaiae (formerly known as P. bilaiae and P. bilaji) ATCC18309, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 20851, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 22348,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50776, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50779,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50780, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50781,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50782, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50783,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50784, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50785,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50786, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50787,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50788, Penicillium bilaiae RS7B-SD1,Penicillium brevicompactum AgRF18, Penicillium canescens ATCC 10419,Penicillium expansum ATCC 24692, Penicillium expansum YT02, Penicilliumfellatanum ATCC 48694, Penicillium gaestrivorus NRRL 50170, Penicilliumglabrum DAOM 239074, Penicillium glabrum CBS 229.28, Penicilliumjanthinellum ATCC 10455, Penicillium lanosocoeruleum ATCC 48919,Penicillium radicum ATCC 201836, Penicillium radicum FRR 4717,Penicillium radicum FRR 4719, Penicillium radicum N93/47267, Penicilliumraistrickii ATCC 10490, Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1, Trichodermaasperellum ICC 012, Trichoderma atroviride LC52, Trichoderma atrovirideCNCM 1-1237, Trichoderma fertile JM41R, Trichoderma gamsii ICC 080,Trichoderma hamatum ATCC 52198, Trichoderma harzianum ATCC 52445,Trichoderma harzianum KRL-AG2, Trichoderma harzianum T-22, Trichodermaharzianum TH-35, Trichoderma harzianum T-39, Trichoderma harzianumICC012, Trichoderma reesi ATCC 28217, Trichoderma virens ATCC 58678,Trichoderma virens GL-3, Trichoderma virens GL-21, Trichoderma virensG-41, Trichoderma viridae ATCC 52440, Trichoderma viridae ICC080,Trichoderma viridae TV1 and combinations thereof, as well as spores ofmicroorganisms having at least at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%,97%, 98%, 99% or more identical to any of the aforementioned strains onthe basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and/or cytochrome coxidase (CO1) sequence identity.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise spores from one or more mycorrhizal fungi (e.g., one or moreendomycorrhizal fungi and/or one or more ectomycorrhizal fungi).Non-limiting examples of mycorrhizal spores that may be useful incompositions of the present disclosure includespores of mycorrhizalstrains such as Gigaspora margarita, Glomus aggregatum, Glomusbrasilianum, Glomus clarum, Glomus deserticola, Glomus etunicatum,Glomus intraradices, Glomus monosporum, Glomus mosseae, Laccariabicolor, Laccaria laccata, Paraglomus brazilianum, Pisolithustinctorius, Rhizopogon amylopogon, Rhizopogon fulvigleba, Rhizopogonluteolus, Rhizopogon villosuli, Scleroderma cepa and Sclerodermacitrinum and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise spores from one or more diazotrophs.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise spores from one or more phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise spores from one or more biofungicides, bioherbicides,bioinsectides and/or bionematicides. See generally BURGES, FORMULATIONOF MICROBIAL BIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS, NEMATODES ANDSEED TREATMENTS (Springer Science & Business Media) (2012); HALL & MENN,BIOPESTICIDES: USE AND DELIVERY (Humana Press) (1998); McCoy, et al.,Entomogenous fungi, in CRC HANDBOOK OF NATURAL PESTICIDES. MICROBIALPESTICIDES, PART A. ENTOMOGENOUS PROTOZOA AND FUNGI (C. M. Inoffo, ed.),Vol. 5:151-236 (1988); SAMSON, et al., ATLAS OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI(Springer-Verlag, Berlin) (1988); deFaria and Wraight, Mycoinsecticidesand Mycoacaricides: A comprehensive list with worldwide coverage andinternational classification of formulation types, BIOL. CONTROL (2007),doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.08.001; and WO 2016/096821. Non-limitingexamples of biopesticidal strains that may be useful in compositions ofthe present disclosure include Ampelomyces quisqualis AQ 10® (IntrachemBio GmbH & Co. KG, Germany), Aspergillus flavus AFLA-GUARD® (SyngentaCrop Protection, Inc., CH), Aureobasidium pullulans BOTECTOR® (bio-fermGmbH, Germany), Bacillus AQ175 (ATCC 55608), Bacillus AQ177 (ATCC55609), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciensFZB42, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349, Bacillusamyloliquefaciens TJ1000 (also known as 1BE, isolate ATCC BAA-390),Bacillus firmus 1-1582, Bacillus mycoides AQ726 (NRRL B-21664); Bacilluspumilus AQ717 (NRRL B-21662), Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-30087, Bacillussubtilis AQ713 (NRRL B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL B-21665),Bacillus subtilis ATCC 55078, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 55079, Bacillusthuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL B-21619), Beauveria bassiana ATCC-74040,Beauveria bassiana ATCC-74250, Burkholderia sp. A396 sp. nov.rinojensis, NRRL B-50319, Candida oleophila 1-182 (e.g., ASPIRE® fromEcogen Inc., USA), Candida saitoana BIOCURE® (in mixture with lysozyme;BASF, USA) and BIOCOAT® (ArystaLife Science, Ltd., Cary, N.C.),Chromobacterium subtsugae NRRL B-30655, Chromobacterium vaccinii NRRLB-50880, Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata (also referred to asGliocladium catenulatum) J1446 (PRESTOP®, Verdera, Finland),Coniothyrium minitans CONTANS® (Prophyta, Germany), Cryphonectriaparasitica (CNICM, France), Cryptococcus albidus YIELD PLUS® (AnchorBio-Technologies, South Africa), Flavobacterium H492, NRRL B-50584,Fusarium oxysporum BIOFOX® (from S.I.A.P.A., Italy) and FUSACLEAN®(Natural Plant Protection, France), Metarhizium anisopliae F52 (alsoknown as Metarhizium anisopliae strain 52, Metarhizium anisopliae strain7, Metarhizium anisopliae strain 43 and Metarhizium anisopliae BIO-1020,TAE-001; deposited as DSM 3884, DSM 3885, ATCC 90448, SD 170 and ARSEF7711), Metschnikowia fructicola SHEMER® (Agrogreen, Israel),Microdochium dimerum ANTIBOT® (Agrauxine, France), Muscodor albus NRRL30547, Muscodor roseus NRRL 30548, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FE991,Phlebiopsis gigantea ROTSOP® (Verdera, Finland), Pseudozyma flocculosaSPORODEX® (Plant Products Co. Ltd., Canada), Pythium oligandrum DV74(POLYVERSUM®, Remeslo SSRO, Biopreparaty, Czech Rep.), Reynoutriasachlinensis (e.g., REGALIA® from Marrone BioInnovations, USA),Streptomyces NRRL B-30145, Streptomyces M1064, Streptomyces galbus NRRL30232, Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108 (ATCC 55445), Streptomycesviolaceusniger YCED 9 (ATCC 55660), Streptomyces WYE 53 (ATCC 55750),Talaromyces flavus V117b (PROTUS®, Prophyta, Germany), Trichodermaasperellum SKT-1 (ECO-HOPE®, Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan),Trichoderma atroviride LC52 (SENTINEL®, Agrimm Technologies Ltd, NZ),Trichoderma harzianum T-22 (PLANTSHIELD®, der Firma BioWorks Inc., USA),Trichoderma harzianum TH-35 (ROOT PRO®, from Mycontrol Ltd., Israel),Trichoderma harzianum T-39 (TRICHODEX®, Mycontrol Ltd., Israel;TRICHODERMA 2000®, Makhteshim Ltd., Israel), Trichoderma harzianumICC012 and Trichoderma viride TRICHOPEL (Agrimm Technologies Ltd, NZ),Trichoderma harzianum ICC012 and Trichoderma viride ICC080 (REMEDIER®WP, Isagro Ricerca, Italy), Trichoderma polysporum and Trichodermaharzianum (BINAB®, BINAB Bio-Innovation AB, Sweden), Trichodermastromaticum TRICOVAB® (C.E.P.L.A.C., Brazil), Trichoderma virens GL-21(SOILGARD®, Certis LLC, USA), Trichoderma virens G1-3 (ATCC 58678),Trichoderma virens G1-21 (Thermo Trilogy Corporation, Wasco, Calif.),Trichoderma virens G1-3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24,Trichoderma virens G1-3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349,Trichoderma virens G1-3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000,Trichoderma virens G1-21 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24,Trichoderma virens G1-21 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349,Trichoderma virens G1-21 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000,Trichoderma viride TRIECO® (Ecosense Labs. (India) Pvt. Ltd., India,BIO-CURE® F from T. Stanes & Co. Ltd., India), Trichoderma viride TV1(Agribiotec srl, Italy), Trichoderma viride ICC080, Ulocladiumoudemansii HRU3 (BOTRY-ZEN®, Botry-Zen Ltd, NZ) and combinationsthereof.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise spores from one or more modified microbial strains.

Microbial spores may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s).

In some embodiments, microbial spores comprise about 0.1 to about 50%(by weight) of the inoculant composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3,3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50%or more (by weight) of one or more microbial spores. In someembodiments, the microbial spore amount/concentration is about 1, 2, 3,4 or 5 to about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25% (by weight) of the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, microbial spores are present in an amount rangingfrom about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁵ colony-forming units (cfu) per gramand/or milliliter of inoculant composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 1×10¹, 1×10²,1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹²or more microbial spores per gram and/or milliliter of inoculantcomposition (e.g., about 1×10⁴ to about 1×10⁹ Bacillus amyloliquefaciensTJ1000 (also known as 1BE, isolate ATCC BAA-390), Metarhizium anisopliaeF52, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 20851, Penicillium bilaiae RS7B-SD1 and/orTrichoderma virens G1-3 spores per gram/milliliter).

In some embodiments, the microbial spores are present in anamount/concentration effective for fixing atmospheric nitrogen,solubilizing phosphate, controlling one or more phytopathogenic pests,enhancing plant growth, enhancing plant stress tolerance and/orenhancing plant yield when the inoculant composition is introduced intoa plant growth medium (e.g., a soil).

In some embodiments, the microbial spores are present in anamount/concentration effective for fixing atmospheric nitrogen,solubilizing phosphate, controlling one or more phytopathogenic pests,enhancing plant growth, enhancing plant stress tolerance and/orenhancing plant yield when the inoculant composition is applied to aplant or plant part.

Microbial spores may be produced by any suitable method(s), including,but not limited to, liquid fermentation and solid state fermentation.See, e.g., Cunningham et al., CAN. J. BOT. 68:2270 (1990); Friesen etal., APPL. MICROBIOL. BIOTECH. 68:397 (2005).

Microbial spores may be harvested and/or concentrated using any suitablemethod(s), including, but not limited to, centrifugation (e.g., densitygradient centrifugation, disc stack centrifugation, tubular bowlcentrifugation), coagulation, decanting, felt bed collection, filtration(e.g., drum filtration, sieving, ultrafiltration), flocculation,impaction and trapping (e.g., cyclone spore trapping, liquidimpingement).

Although the primary foci of the present disclosure are compositions andmethods for enhancing the stability and/or survival of microbial spores,it is to be understood that inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise one or more microorganisms (e.g., diazotrophs,phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and/or biopesticides) in avegetative state.

Vegetative cells may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). In someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure are devoidof vegetative cells.

In some embodiments, vegetative cells comprise about 0.1 to about 50%(by weight) of the inoculant composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3,3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50%or more (by weight) of one or more vegetative cells.

In some embodiments, vegetative cells are present in an amount rangingfrom about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹² colony-forming units (cfu) per gramand/or milliliter of inoculant composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 1×10¹, 1×10²,1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹²or more cfu of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms per gram and/ormilliliter of inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, the vegetative cells are present in anamount/concentration effective for fixing atmospheric nitrogen,solubilizing phosphate, controlling one or more phytopathogenic pests,enhancing plant growth, enhancing plant stress tolerance and/orenhancing plant yield when the inoculant composition is introduced intoa plant growth medium (e.g., a soil).

In some embodiments, the vegetative cells are present in anamount/concentration effective for fixing atmospheric nitrogen,solubilizing phosphate, controlling one or more phytopathogenic pests,enhancing plant growth, enhancing plant stress tolerance and/orenhancing plant yield when the inoculant composition is applied to aplant or plant part.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable non-aqueous carrier(s), including, but not limited to,foliar-compatible carriers, seed-compatible carriers and soil-compatiblecarriers. Selection of appropriate carrier materials will depend on theintended application(s) and the microorganism(s) present in theinoculant composition.

In some embodiments, the carrier material(s) will be selected to providean inoculant composition in the form of a liquid, gel, slurry, or solid.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more liquid and/or gel carriers. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more non-aqueous solvents. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or more inorganicsolvents, such as decane, dodecane, hexylether and nonane, and/or one ormore organic solvents, such as acetone, dichloromethane, ethanol,hexane, methanol, propan-2-ol and trichloroethylene. Non-limitingexamples of liquid/gel carriers that may be useful in compositions ofthe present disclosure include oils (e.g., mineral oil, olive oil,peanut oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil), polyethylene glycols (e.g., PEG200, PEG 300, PEG 400, etc.), propylene glycols (e.g., PPG-9, PPG-10,PPG-17, PPG-20, PPG-26, etc.), ethoxylated alcohols (e.g., TOMADOL® (AirProducts and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, Pa.), TERGITOL™ 15-Ssurfactants such as TERGITOL™15-S-9 (The Dow Chemical Company, Midland,Mich.), etc.), polysorbates (e.g. polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40,polysorbate 60, polysorbate 80, etc.), silicones (siloxanes,trisiloxanes, etc.) and combinations thereof. Additional examples ofsolvents that may be included in inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may be found in BURGES, FORMULATION OF MICROBIALBIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS, NEMATODES AND SEED TREATMENTS(Springer Science & Business Media) (2012); Inoue & Horikoshi, J.FERMENTATION BIOENG. 71(3):194 (1991).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more solid carriers. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or morepowders (e.g., wettable powders) and/or granules. Non-limiting examplesof solid carriers that may be useful in compositions of the presentdisclosure include peat-based powders and granules, freeze-driedpowders, spray-dried powders and combinations thereof. Additionalexamples of solid carriers that may be included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may be found in BURGES,FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL BIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS,NEMATODES AND SEED TREATMENTS (Springer Science & Business Media)(2012).

Carriers incorporated into inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise a growth medium suitable for culturing one ormore of the microorganisms in the inoculant composition. For example, insome embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise Czapek-Dox medium, glycerol yeast extract, mannitol yeastextract, potato dextrose broth and/or YEM media.

The non-aqueous carrier may constitute any suitable portion of theinoculant composition. In some embodiments, the non-aqueous carrier(s)comprise(s) about 1 to about 99% (by weight) of the inoculantcomposition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure, the non-aqueous carrier(s) constitute(s) about 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75,80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5% or more (by weight) of theinoculant composition. In some embodiments, the carrieramount/concentration is about 50 to about 99%, about 55% to about 95%,about 60% to about 95%, about 65% to about 90%, about 70 to about 90%,about 75 to about 90%, about 80 to about 90% or about 80 to about 85%(by weight) of the inoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or more commercialcarriers used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendedamounts/concentrations.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable protectants(s), including, but not limited to, monosaccharides,disaccharides, oligosaccharides, maltodextrins, sugar alcohols, humicacids, malt extracts, peat extracts, skim milk extracts, betaines,prolines, sarcosines, peptones, oxidation control components,hygroscopic polymers and UV protectants.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more monosaccharides (e.g., allose, altrose, arabinose,fructose, galactose, glucose, gulose, iodose, lyxose, mannose, ribose,talose, threose and/or xylose). In some embodiments, one or more ofallose, altrose, arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose, gulose,iodose, lyxose, mannose, ribose, talose, threose and xylose is/areexcluded from inoculant compositions of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more disaccharides (e.g., cellobiose, chitobiose,gentiobiose, gentiobiulose, isomaltose, kojibiose, lactose, lactulose,laminaribiose, maltose (e.g., maltose monohydrate, anhydrous maltose),maltulose, mannobiose, melibiose, melibiulose, nigerose, palatinose,rutinose, rutinulose, sophorose, sucrose, trehalose, turanose and/orxylobiose). In some embodiments, one or more of cellobiose, chitobiose,gentiobiose, gentiobiulose, isomaltose, kojibiose, lactose, lactulose,laminaribiose, maltose (e.g., maltose monohydrate, anhydrous maltose),maltulose, mannobiose, melibiose, melibiulose, nigerose, palatinose,rutinose, rutinulose, sophorose, sucrose, trehalose (e.g., trehalosedihydrate, anhydrous trehalose), turanose and xylobiose is/are excludedfrom inoculant compositions of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more oligosaccharides (e.g., fructo-oligosaccharides,galacto-oligosaccharides, mannon-oligosaccharides and/or raffinose). Insome embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise raffinose. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure do not comprise raffinose.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more maltodextrins having a dextrose equivalent value(DEV) of about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or moremaltodextrins having a DEV of about 5 to about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, about 10 to about 11,12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, or about 15 toabout 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise a combinationof maltodextrins having a DEV of about 5 to about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, about 10 to about11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, or about 15to about 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or moremaltodextrins having a DEV of about 10 to about 25 (e.g., one or moremaltodextrins having a DEV of about 15 to about 20). In someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise acombination of maltodextrins having a DEV of about 10 to about 25 (e.g.,a combination of maltodextrins having a DEV of about 15 to about 20).Non-limiting examples of maltodextrins that may be useful incompositions of the present disclosure include MALTRIN® M040 (DEV=5;molecular weight=3600; Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa),MALTRIN® M100 (DEV=10; molecular weight=1800; Grain ProcessingCorporation, Muscatine, Iowa), MALTRIN® M150 (DEV=15; molecularweight=1200; Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa), MALTRIN®M180 (DEV=18; molecular weight=1050; Grain Processing Corporation,Muscatine, Iowa), MALTRIN® M200 (DEV=20; molecular weight=900; GrainProcessing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa), MALTRIN® M250 (DEV=25;molecular weight=720; Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa);MALTRIN QD® M580 (DEV=16.5-19.9; Grain Processing Corporation,Muscatine, Iowa); MALTRIN QD® M585 (DEV=15.0-19.9; Grain ProcessingCorporation, Muscatine, Iowa); MALTRIN QD® M600 (DEV=20.0-23.0; GrainProcessing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa); GLOBE® Plus 15 DE (IngredionInc., Westchester, Ill.); and combinations thereof. In some embodiments,the maltodextrin (or combination of maltodextrins) has a DEV of 15 to20.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more sugar alcohols (e.g., arabitol, erythritol,fucitol, galactitol, glycerol, iditol, inositol, isomalt, lactitol,maltitol, maltotetraitol, maltotriitol, mannitol, polyglycitol, ribitol,sorbitol, threitol, volemitol and/or xylitol). In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise sorbitol. Insome embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure donot comprise sorbitol. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure comprise xylitol. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure do not comprise xylitol.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more humic acids (e.g., one or more leonardite humicacids, lignite humic acids, peat humic acids and water-extracted humicacids). In some embodiments, the inoculant composition comprisesammonium humate, boron humate, potassium humate and/or sodium humate. Insome embodiments, one or more of ammonium humate, boron humate,potassium humate and sodium humate is/are excluded from inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure. Nonlimiting examples of humicacids that may be useful in embodiments of the present disclosureinclude MDL Number MFCD00147177 (CAS Number 1415-93-6), MDL NumberMFCD00135560 (CAS Number 68131-04-4), MDL Number MFCS22495372 (CASNumber 68514-28-3), CAS Number 93924-35-7 and CAS Number 308067-45-0.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more malt extracts, peat extracts, and/or skim milkextracts.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more betaines (e.g., trimethylglycine).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more peptones (e.g., one or more bacterial peptones,meat peptones, milk peptones, vegetable peptones and/or yeast peptones).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more oxidation control components.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable oxidation control component(s), including, but not limited to,antioxidants and/or oxygen scavengers. In some embodiments, theoxidation control component is/comprises ascorbic acid and/orglutathione.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions comprise one or moreantioxidants. For example, in some embodiments, inoculant compositionsof the present disclosure comprise ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate,ascorbyl stearate, calcium ascorbate, carotenoids, lipoic acid, phenoliccompounds (e.g., flavonoids, flavones, flavonols), potassium ascorbate,sodium ascorbate, thiols (e.g., glutathione, lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine), tocopherols, tocotrienols, ubiquinone and/or uric acid.Non-limiting examples of antioxidants that may be useful in compositionsof the present disclosure include those that are soluble in the cellmembrane (e.g., alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate), thosethat are soluble in alcohols (e.g., IRGANOX® antioxidants (BASF SchweizAG, Basel, Switzerland)) and those that are soluble in water (e.g.,ascorbic acid and isomers or ascorbic acid, sodium or potassium salts ofascorbic acid or isomers or ascorbic acid, glutathione, sodium orpotassium salts of glutathione). In some embodiments, use of amembrane-soluble antioxidant necessitates the addition of one or moresurfactants to adequately disperse the antioxidant within the inoculantcomposition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions comprise one or morenaturally occurring or synthetic oxygen scavengers. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseascorbic acid, ascorbate salts, catechol and/or sodium hydrogencarbonate.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more hygroscopic polymers (e.g., one or more albumins,alginates, celluloses, gums (e.g., cellulose gum, guar gum, gum arabic,gum combretum, xantham gum), methyl celluloses, nylons, pectins,polyacrylic acids, polycarbonates, polyethylene glycols (PEG),polyethylenimines (PEI), polylactides, polymethylacrylates (PMA),polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP),propylene glycols, sodium carboxymethyl celluloses and/or starches).Non-limiting examples of hygroscopic polymers that may be useful incompositions of the present disclosure include AGRIMER™ polymers (e.g.,30, AL-10 LC, AL-22, AT/ATF, VA 3E, VA 31, VA 5E, VA 51, VA 6, VA 6E, VA7E, VA 71, VEMA AN-216, VEMA AN-990, VEMA AN-1200, VEMA AN-1980, VEMAH-815MS; Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Wilmington, Del.), EASYSPERSE™polymers (Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Wilmington, Del.); DISCO™ AGpolymers (e.g., L-250, L-280, L-285, L-286, L-320, L-323, L-517, L-519,L-520, L800; Incotec Inc., Salinas, Calif.), KELZAN® polymers (Bri-ChemSupply Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Calif.), SEEDWORX™ polymers (e.g., Bio200; Aginnovation, LLC, Walnut Groove, Calif.), TABULOSE® gels (e.g.,SC-580, SC-612, SC-613, SC-681; Blanver Farmoquimica, Boca Raton, Fla.),TICAXAN® xanthan powders (TIC Gums, White Marsh, Md.) and combinationsthereof. Additional examples of hygroscopic polymers that may beincluded in inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may befound in Pouci, et al. AM. J. AGRIC. BIOL. SCI. 3(1):299 (2008).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more UV protectants (e.g., one or more aromatic aminoacids (e.g., tryptophan, tyrosine), carotenoids, cinnamates,lignosulfonates (e.g., calcium lignosulfonate, sodium lignosulfonate),melanins, mycosporines, polyphenols and/or salicylates). Non-limitingexamples of UV protectants that may be useful in compositions of thepresent disclosure include Borregaard LignoTech™ lignosulfonates (e.g.,Borresperse 3A, Borresperse CA, Borresperse NA, Marasperse AG, Norlig A,Norlig 11D, Ufoxane 3A, Ultrazine NA, Vanisperse CB; BorregaardLignotech, Sarpsborg, Norway) and combinations thereof. Additionalexamples of UV protectants that may be included in inoculanccompositions of the present disclosure may be found in BURGES,FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL BIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS,NEMATODES AND SEED TREATMENTS (Springer Science & Business Media)(2012).

Protectants may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable form. In some embodiments, theprotectant(s) included in inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure is/are at least 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96,97, 98, 99, 99.5% or more pure.

Protectants may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). Theabsolute value of the amount/concentration/dosage of protectant(s) thatis/are sufficient to cause the desired effect(s) may be affected byfactors such as the type, size and volume of material to which thecomposition will be applied, the type(s) of microorganisms in thecomposition, the number of microorganisms in the composition, thestability of the microorganisms in the composition and storageconditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, duration). Thoseskilled in the art will understand how to select an effectiveamount/concentration/dosage using routine dose-response experiments.Guidance for the selection of appropriate amounts/concentrations can befound, for example, in International Patent Application Nos.PCT/US2016/050529 and PCT/US2016/050647 and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 62/296,798; 62/271,857; 62/347,773; 62/343,217;62/296,784; 62/271,873; 62/347,785; 62/347,794; 62/347,805; 62/436,517and 62/436,529.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more protectants in an amount/concentration of about0.0005 to about 95% or more (by weight, based upon the total of theinoculant composition). For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise about 0.0005 to about 0.001, about 0.001to about 1%, about 0.25 to about 5%, about 1 to about 10%, about 5 toabout 25%, about 10% to about 30%, about 20% to about 40%, about 25% toabout 50%, about 30 to about 60%, about 50 to about 75%, or about 75 toabout 95% (by weight), optionally about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003,0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5,6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%, of one or more monosaccharides,disaccharides, oligosaccharides, maltodextrins, sugar alcohols, humicacids, malt extracts, peat extracts, skim milk extracts, betaines,prolines, sarcosines, peptones, oxidation control components,hygroscopic polymers and/or UV protectants.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more protectants in an amount/concentration of about1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise about 1×10⁻¹⁵ M to about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M,about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M,about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M,about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M, or about 1×10⁻⁸ M to about 1×10⁻² M,optionally about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M,1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, 1×10⁻⁹M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M, 1×10⁻³ M, 1×10⁻² M,1×10⁻¹ M or more, of one or more monosaccharides, disaccharides,oligosaccharides, maltodextrins, sugar alcohols, humic acids, maltextracts, peat extracts, skim milk extracts, betaines, prolines,sarcosines, peptones, oxidation control components, hygroscopic polymersand/or UV protectants.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more monosaccharides in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 50% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 15,20, 25% (by weight) of one or more monosaccharides (e.g., arabinose,fructose and/or glucose). In some embodiments, one or moremonosaccharides is/are present in a concentration ranging from about1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example one or more monosaccharides maybe included at a concentration of about/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M,1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M,1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more disaccharides in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 50% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 15,20, 25% (by weight) of one or more disaccharides (e.g., maltose, sucroseand/or trehalose). In some embodiments, one or more disaccharides is/arepresent in a concentration ranging from about 1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹M. For example one or more disaccharides may be included at aconcentration of about/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M,1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more sugar alcohols in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 50% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 15,20, 25% (by weight) of one or more sugar alcohols (e.g., arabitol,mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol). In some embodiments, one or moresugar alcohols is/are present in a concentration ranging from about1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example one or more sugar alcohols maybe included at a concentration of about/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M,1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M,1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more maltodextrins in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 95% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% of one or more maltodextrins (eachand/or collectively) having a DEV value of about 15 to about 20. In someembodiments, the maltodextrin amount/concentration is 0.001 to about 1%,about 0.25 to about 5%, about 1 to about 10%, about 1 to about 65%,about 10% to about 30%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 50%,or about 30 to about 60% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, one or more maltodextrins is/are present in aconcentration ranging from about 1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. Forexample one or more maltodextrins may be included at a concentration ofabout/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M,1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M,1×10⁻¹⁰ M.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more humic acids in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 95% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the humic acid(s) (e.g., potassium humate and/orsodium humate) comprise(s) about 0.001 to about 1%, about 0.25 to about5%, about 1 to about 10% (by weight) of the composition. For example,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise about/atleast/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09,0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5,7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25% (by weight) of one or more humicacids (e.g., potassium humate and/or sodium humate). In someembodiments, one or more humic acids is/are present in a concentrationranging from about 1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example one or morehumic acids may be included at a concentration of about/at least/lessthan 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M,1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more malt extracts in an amount/concentration of about0.005 to about 95% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08,0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25% of one or moremaltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEV value of about 15to about 20. In some embodiments, the malt extract amount/concentrationis about 0.001 to about 1%, about 0.25 to about 5%, about 1 to about 10%(by weight) of the inoculant composition. In some embodiments, one ormore malt extracts is/are present in a concentration ranging from about1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example one or more malt extracts maybe included at a concentration of about/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M,1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M,1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or morepeat extracts, skim milk extracts and/or peptones in anamount/concentration of about 0.005 to about 25% (by weight) of theinoculant composition. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise about/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02,0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10,15, 20, 25% or more (by weight) of one or more peat extracts, skim milkextracts and/or peptones. In some embodiments, the peat extract, skimmilk extract and/or peptone amount/concentration is about 0.5 to about10% (by weight) of the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more hygroscopic polymers in an amount/concentration ofabout 0.005 to about 25% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the hygroscopic polymer(s) comprise(s) about 0.5 toabout 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9,9.5 or 10% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. For example,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise about/atleast/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09,0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5,7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25% (by weight) of one or morehygroscopic polymers. In some embodiments, the hygroscopic polymeramount/concentration is about 0.5 to about 10% (by weight) of theinoculant composition. In some embodiments, the hygroscopic polymeramount/concentration is about 0.5 to about 5% (by weight) of theinoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure comprise one or more commercial hygroscopicpolymers used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendedamounts/concentrations.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more oxidation control components in anamount/concentration of about 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) ofthe composition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about/at least/less than 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002,0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07,0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1,1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% of one or more oxidation controlcomponents. In some embodiments, the amount/concentration of oxidationcontrol components is about 0.005 to about 2% (by weight) of thecomposition. In some embodiments, the oxidation control component(s)is/are present in a concentration ranging from about 1×10⁻²⁰ M to about1×10⁻¹ M. For example, one or more oxidation control components may beadded at a concentration of about/at least/less than 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M,1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or more commercialantioxidants used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendedamounts/concentrations. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure comprise one or more commercial oxygen scavengersused in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendedamounts/concentrations.

Protectants may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable ratio(s).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more maltodextrins and one or more mono-, di- and/oroligosaccharides in a ratio of about 1:99 to about 99:1 (by weight,based upon the respective weight percentages of the maltodextrin(s) andmono-, di- and/or oligosaccharide(s) in the inoculant composition). Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseone or more maltodextrins and one or more disaccharides (e.g. maltose,sucrose and/or trehalose) in a maltodextrin:disaccharide) ratio of about5:95, 10:90, 15:85, 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, 50:50,55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5 or more,preferably about 50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15,90:10, 95:5 or more. Thus, in some embodiments, inoculant compositionsof the present disclosure comprise one or more maltodextrins having aDEV of about 15 to about 20 and one or more mono-, di- and/oroligosaccharides in a ratio of about 45:55, 50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35,70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more maltodextrins and one or more sugar alcohols in aratio of about 1:99 to about 99:1 (by weight, based upon the respectiveweight percentages of the maltodextrin(s) and sugar alcohol(s) in theinoculant composition). For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise one or more maltodextrins and one ormore sugar alcohols (e.g. arabitol, mannitol. sorbitol and/or xylitol)in a maltodextrin:sugar alcohol ratio of about 5:95, 10:90, 15:85,20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, 50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35,70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5 or more, preferably about 50:50,55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5 or more.Thus, in some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more maltodextrins having a DEV of about 15to about 20 and one or more sugar alcohols in a ratio of about 45:55,50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and one ormore sugar alcohols in a ratio of about 1:99 to about 99:1 (by weight,based upon the respective weight percentages of the mono- and/ordisaccharide(s) and sugar alcohol(s) in the inoculant composition). Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseone or more monosaccharides and/or disaccharides (e.g, arabinose,fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose) and one or moresugar alcohols (e.g. arabitol, mannitol. sorbitol and/or xylitol) in amono- and/or disaccharide:sugar alcohol ratio of about 5:95, 10:90,15:85, 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60, 45:55, 50:50, 55:45, 60:40,65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5 or more, preferably about50:50, 55:45, 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5 ormore.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more protectants in an amount/concentration sufficientto ensure microbial spores/vegetative cells microorganisms remain viablein inoculant compositions of the present disclosure following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, the amount(s)/concentration(s) of the stabilizer(s)included in the inoculant composition is/are selected to ensure at least0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% of the microorganisms in theinoculant composition remain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, the amount(s)/concentration(s) of the stabilizer(s)included in the inoculant composition is/are selected to ensure at least1×10¹, 1×10², 1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰ ormore colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of inoculantcomposition remain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable agriculturally acceptable dispersant(s), including, but notlimited to, surfactants and wetting agents.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more anionic surfactants. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more water-soluble anionic surfactants and/or one or morewater-insoluble anionic surfactants, optionally one or more anionicsurfactants selected from the group consisting of alkyl carboxylates(e.g., sodium stearate), alkyl sulfates (e.g., alkyl lauryl sulfate,sodium lauryl sulfate), alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl amido ethersulfates, alkyl aryl polyether sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl amide sulfonates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl diphenyloxide sulfonate,alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, paraffinsulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates,alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamates, alkylsulfoacetates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acylsarconsinates, acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates,N-acyl-N-alkyltaurates, benzene sulfonates, cumene sulfonates, dioctylsodium sulfosuccinate, ethoxylated sulfosuccinates, lignin sulfonates,linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, monoglyceride sulfates,perfluorobutanesulfonate, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phosphate ester,styrene acrylic polymers, toluene sulfonates and xylene sulfonates.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more cationic surfactants. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more pH-dependent amines and/or one or more quaternary ammoniumcations, optionally one or more cationic surfactants selected from thegroup consisting of alkyltrimethylammonium salts (e.g., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetyl trimethylammonium chloride),cetylpyridinium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride,5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride,cetrimonium bromide, dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and/oroctenidine dihydrochloride.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more nonionic surfactants. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more water-soluble nonionic surfactants and/or one or morewater-insoluble nonionic surfactants, optionally one or more nonionicsurfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates(e.g., TERGITOL™ 15-S surfactants, such as TERGITOL™15-S-9 (The DowChemical Company, Midland, Mich.)), alkanolamides, alkanolaminecondensates, carboxylic acid esters, cetostearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol,cocamide DEA, dodecyldimethylamine oxides, ethanolamides, ethoxylates ofglycerol ester and glycol esters, ethylene oxide polymers, ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide copolymers, glucoside alkyl ethers, glycerol alkylethers (e.g.,), glycerol esters, glycol alkyl ethers (e.g.,polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, polyoxypropylene glycol alkylethers,), glycol alkylphenol ethers (e.g., polyoxyethylene glycolalkylphenol ethers,), glycol esters, monolaurin, pentaethylene glycolmonododecyl ethers, poloxamer, polyamines, polyglycerol polyricinoleate,polysorbate, polyoxyethylenated fatty acids, polyoxyethylenatedmercaptans, polyoxyethylenated polyoxyproylene glycols, polyoxyethyleneglycol sorbitan alkyl esters, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycolcopolymers, polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, polyvinylpynolidones, sugar-based alkyl polyglycosides, sulfoanylamides, sorbitanfatty acid alcohol ethoxylates, sorbitan fatty acid ester ethoxylates,sorbitan fatty acid ester and/or tertiary acetylenic glycols.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise at least one nonionic surfactant. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise at least onewater insoluble nonionic surfactant and at least one water solublenonionic surfactant. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure comprise a combination of nonionic surfactants havinghydrocarbon chains of substantially the same length.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more zwitterionic surfactants. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more betaines and/or one or more sultaines, optionally one ormore zwitterionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate,cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine,phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and/orone or more sphingomyelins.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more soaps and/or organosilicone surfactants. Forexample, in some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more alkali metal salts of fatty acids.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more wetting agents. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or morenaphthalene sulfonates, optionally one or more alkyl naphthalenesulfonates (e.g., sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate), one or moreisopropyl naphthalene sulfonates (e.g., sodium isopropyl naphthalenesulfonate) and/or one or more butyl naphthalene sulfonates (e.g., sodiumn-butyl naphthalene sulfonate).

Selection of appropriate surfactants will depend on the intendedapplication(s) and the microorganism(s) present in the inoculantcomposition. In general, the surfactant(s) will have low toxicity forthe microorganism(s) in the inoculant composition and for the plantpart(s) to which the inoculant composition is to be applied. In someembodiments, the surfactant(s) will be selected to wet and/or emulsifyone or more soils.

Non-limiting examples of dispersants that may be useful in compositionsof the present disclosure include Atlox™ (e.g., 4916, 4991; CrodaInternational PLC, Edison, N.J.), BIO-SOFT® (e.g., N series, such asN1-3, N1-7, N1-5, N1-9, N23-3, N2.3-6.5, N25-3, N25-7, N25-9, N91-2.5,N91-6, N91-8; Stepan Company, Northfield, Ill.), MAKON® nonionicsurfactants (e.g., DA-4, DA-6 and DA-9; Stepan Company, Northfield,Ill.), MORWET® powders (Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago,Ill.), MULTIWET™ surfactants (e.g., MO-70R, MO-85P, MO-85P-PW-(AP);Croda International PLC, Edison, N.J.), SILWET® L-77 (Helena ChemicalCompany, Collierville, Tenn.), SPAN™ surfactants (e.g., 20, 40, 60, 65,80 and 85; Croda Inc., Edison N.J.), TAMOL™ dispersants (The DowChemical Company, Midland, Mich.), TERGITOL™ surfactants (e.g., 15-S-9,TMN-6, TMN-100X and XD; The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.),TERSPERSE surfactants (e.g., 2001, 2020, 2100, 2105, 2158, 2700, 4894and 4896; Hunstman Corp., The Woodlands, Tex.), TRITON™ surfactants(e.g., X-100; The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.), TWEEN®surfactants (e.g., TWEEN® 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 40, 60, 61, 65, 80, 81 and85; Croda International PLC, Edison, N.J.) and combinations thereof.Additional examples of dispersants that may be included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may be found in BAIRD & ZUBLENA.1993. SOIL FACTS: USING WETTING AGENTS (NONIONIC SURFACTANTS) ON SOIL(North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG-439-25)(1993); BURGES, FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL BIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIALMICROORGANISMS, NEMATODES AND SEED TREATMENTS (Springer Science &Business Media) (2012); MCCARTY, WETTING AGENTS (Clemson UniversityCooperative Extension Service Publication) (2001).

Dispersants may be incorporated into inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). In someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more dispersants in an amount/concentration of about 0.01 toabout 25% (by weight) of the composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8,8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25% or more (by weight) of one or moredispersants. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more dispersants in an amount/concentrationof about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 or 1 to about 1,1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or10% (by weight) of the composition. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise two, three, four, fiveor more dispersants in a combined amount/concentration of about 1 toabout 10% (by weight), optionally about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5,5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10% (by weight), of thecomposition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more commercial wetting agents and/or one ormore surfactants used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendedamounts/concentrations.

As noted above, inoculant compositions of the present invention maycomprise myriad agriculturally beneficial microbial spores. It is tounderstood that inoculant compositions of the present disclosure maycomprise other agriculturally beneficial constituents such asbiostimulants, microbial extracts, nutrients, pest attractants,pesticides and plant signal molecules.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable biostimulant(s), including, but not limited to, seaweedextracts (e.g., Ascophyllum nodosum extracts, such as alginate, Eckloniamaxima extracts, etc.), humic acids (e.g., potassium humate), fulvicacids, myo-inositol, glycine and combinations thereof.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable microbial extract(s), including, but not limited to, bacterialextracts (e.g., extracts of media comprising one or more diazotrophs,phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and/or biopesticides), fungalextracts and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or more Azospirillumextracts (e.g., an extract of media comprising A. brasilense INTAAz-39), one or more Bradyrhizobium extracts (e.g., an extract of mediacomprising B. elkanii SEMIA 501, B. elkanii SEMIA 587, B. elkanii SEMIA5019, B. japonicum NRRL B-50586 (also deposited as NRRL B-59565), B.japonicum NRRL B-50587 (also deposited as NRRL B-59566), B. japonicumNRRL B-50588 (also deposited as NRRL B-59567), B. japonicum NRRL B-50589(also deposited as NRRL B-59568), B. japonicum NRRL B-50590 (alsodeposited as NRRL B-59569), B. japonicum NRRL B-50591 (also deposited asNRRL B-59570), B. japonicum NRRL B-50592 (also deposited as NRRLB-59571), B. japonicum NRRL B-50593 (also deposited as NRRL B-59572), B.japonicum NRRL B-50594 (also deposited as NRRL B-50493), B. japonicumNRRL B-50608, B. japonicum NRRL B-50609, B. japonicum NRRL B-50610, B.japonicum NRRL B-50611, B. japonicum NRRL B-50612, B. japonicum NRRLB-50726, B. japonicum NRRL B-50727, B. japonicum NRRL B-50728, B.japonicum NRRL B-50729, B. japonicum NRRL B-50730, B. japonicum SEMIA566, B. japonicum SEMIA 5079, B. japonicum SEMIA 5080, B. japonicum USDA6, B. japonicum USDA 110, B. japonicum USDA 122, B. japonicum USDA 123,B. japonicum USDA 127, B. japonicum USDA 129 and/or B. japonicum USDA532C), one or more Rhizobium extracts (e.g., an extract of mediacomprising R. leguminosarum SO12A-2), one or more Sinorhizobium extracts(e.g., an extract of media comprising S. fredii CCBAU114 and/or S.fredii USDA 205), one or more Penicillium extracts (e.g., an extract ofmedia comprising P. bilaiae ATCC 18309, P. bilaiae ATCC 20851, P.bilaiae ATCC 22348, P. bilaiae NRRL 50162, P. bilaiae NRRL 50169, P.bilaiae NRRL 50776, P. bilaiae NRRL 50777, P. bilaiae NRRL 50778, P.bilaiae NRRL 50777, P. bilaiae NRRL 50778, P. bilaiae NRRL 50779, P.bilaiae NRRL 50780, P. bilaiae NRRL 50781, P. bilaiae NRRL 50782, P.bilaiae NRRL 50783, P. bilaiae NRRL 50784, P. bilaiae NRRL 50785, P.bilaiae NRRL 50786, P. bilaiae NRRL 50787, P. bilaiae NRRL 50788, P.bilaiae RS7B-SD1, P. brevicompactum AgRF18, P. canescens ATCC 10419, P.expansum ATCC 24692, P. expansum YT02, P. fellatanum ATCC 48694, P.gaestrivorus NRRL 50170, P. glabrum DAOM 239074, P. glabrum CBS 229.28,P. janthinellum ATCC 10455, P. lanosocoeruleum ATCC 48919, P. radicumATCC 201836, P. radicum FRR 4717, P. radicum FRR 4719, P. radicumN93/47267 and/or P. raistrickii ATCC 10490), one or more Pseudomonasextracts (e.g., an extract of media comprising P. jessenii PS06), one ormore acaricidal, insecticidal and/or nematicidal extracts (e.g., anextract of media comprising Bacillus firmus 1-1582, Bacillus mycoidesAQ726, NRRL B-21664; Beauveria bassiana ATCC-74040, Beauveria bassianaATCC-74250, Burkholderia sp. A396 sp. nov. rinojensis, NRRL B-50319,Chromobacterium subtsugae NRRL B-30655, Chromobacterium vaccinii NRRLB-50880, Flavobacterium H492, NRRL B-50584, Metarhizium anisopliae F52(also known as Metarhizium anisopliae strain 52, Metarhizium anisopliaestrain 7, Metarhizium anisopliae strain 43 and Metarhizium anisopliaeBIO-1020, TAE-001; deposited as DSM 3884, DSM 3885, ATCC 90448, SD 170and ARSEF 7711) and/or Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FE991), and/or one ormore fungicidal extracts (e.g., an extract of media comprisingAmpelomyces quisqualis AQ 10® (Intrachem Bio GmbH & Co. KG, Germany),Aspergillus flavus AFLA-GUARD® (Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., CH),Aureobasidium pullulans BOTECTOR® (bio-ferm GmbH, Germany), Bacilluspumilus AQ717 (NRRL B-21662), Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-30087, BacillusAQ175 (ATCC 55608), Bacillus AQ177 (ATCC 55609), Bacillus subtilis AQ713(NRRL B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL B-21665), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens FZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000 (also known as 1BE, isolate ATCCBAA-390), Bacillus thuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL B-21619), Candida oleophila1-82 (e.g., ASPIRE®, Ecogen Inc., USA), Candida saitoana BIOCURE® (inmixture with lysozyme; BASF, USA) and BIOCOAT® (ArystaLife Science,Ltd., Cary, N.C.), Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata (also referred to asGliocladium catenulatum) J1446 (PRESTOP®, Verdera, Finland),Coniothyrium minitans CONTANS® (Prophyta, Germany), Cryphonectriaparasitica (CNICM, France), Cryptococcus albidus YIELD PLUS® (AnchorBio-Technologies, South Africa), Fusarium oxysporum BIOFOX® (S.I.A.P.A.,Italy) and FUSACLEAN® (Natural Plant Protection, France), Gliocladiumvirens GL-21 (SOILGARD®, Certis LLC, USA), Metschnikowia fructicolaSHEMER® (Agrogreen, Israel), Microdochium dimerum ANTIBOT® (Agrauxine,France), Muscodor albus NRRL 30547, Muscodor roseus NRRL 30548,Phlebiopsis gigantea ROTSOP® (Verdera, Finland), Pseudozyma flocculosaSPORODEX® (Plant Products Co. Ltd., Canada), Pythium oligandrum DV74(POLYVERSUM®, Remeslo SSRO, Biopreparaty, Czech Rep.), Reynoutriasachlinensis (e.g., REGALIA®, Marrone BioInnovations, USA), StreptomycesNRRL B-30145, Streptomyces M1064, Streptomyces galbus NRRL 30232,Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108 (ATCC 55445), Streptomyces violaceusnigerYCED 9 (ATCC 55660), Streptomyces WYE 53 (ATCC 55750;), Talaromycesflavus V117b (PROTUS®, Prophyta, Germany), Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1(ECO-HOPE®, Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan), Trichodermaatroviride LC52 (SENTINEL®, Agrimm Technologies Ltd, NZ), Trichodermaharzianum T-22 (PLANTSHIELD®, der Firma BioWorks Inc., USA), Trichodermaharzianum TH-35 (ROOT PRO®, Mycontrol Ltd., Israel), Trichodermaharzianum T-39 (TRICHODEX®, Mycontrol Ltd., Israel; TRICHODERMA 2000®,Makhteshim Ltd., Israel), Trichoderma harzianum ICC012 and Trichodermaviride TRICHOPEL (Agrimm Technologies Ltd, NZ), Trichoderma harzianumICC012 and Trichoderma viride ICC080 (REMEDIER® WP, Isagro Ricerca,Italy), Trichoderma polysporum and Trichoderma harzianum (BINAB®, BINABBio-Innovation AB, Sweden), Trichoderma stromaticum TRICOVAB®(C.E.P.L.A.C., Brazil), Trichoderma virens GL-3, ATCC 58678, Trichodermaviride TRIECO® (Ecosense Labs. (India) Pvt. Ltd., India, BIO-CURE® F, T.Stanes & Co. Ltd., India), Trichoderma viride TV1 (Agribiotec srl,Italy), Trichoderma viride ICC080, and/or Ulocladium oudemansii HRU3(BOTRY-ZEN®, Botry-Zen Ltd, NZ)).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable nutrient(s), including, but not limited to, organic acids(e.g., acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, taurine,etc.), macrominerals (e.g., phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, potassium,sodium, iron, etc.), trace minerals (e.g., boron, cobalt, chloride,chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum,selenium, zinc, etc.), vitamins, (e.g., vitamin A, vitamin B complex(i.e., vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂, vitamin B₃, vitamin B₅, vitamin B₆,vitamin B₇, vitamin B₈, vitamin B₉, vitamin B₁₂, choline) vitamin C,vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene,cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, etc.) and combinationsthereof. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise phosphorous, boron, chlorine, copper, iron,manganese, molybdenum and/or zinc.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable pest attractant(s) and/or feeding stimulant(s), including, butnot limited to, brevicomin, ceralure, codlelure, cue-lure, disparlure,dominicalure, eugenol, frontalin, gossyplure, grandlure, hexalure,ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, latitlure, lineatin, litlure, looplure,medlure, megatomic acid, methyl eugenol, moguchun, α-multistriatin,muscalure, orfalure, oryctalure, ostramone, rescalure, siglure,sulcatol, trimedlure and/or trunc-call.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable pesticide(s), including, but not limited to, fungicides,herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or morebiopesticides (e.g., one or more biofungicides, bioinsecticides and/orbionematicides).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable insecticide(s), including, but not limited to, biologicalinsecticides and chemical insecticides. Insecticides may be selected soas to provide effective control against a broad spectrum of insects,including, but not limited to, insects from the orders Coleoptera,Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera,Orthoptera and Thysanoptera. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise one or more insecticides toxic toinsects from the families Acrididae, Aleytodidae, Anobiidae,Anthomyiidae, Aphididae, Bostrichidae, Bruchidae, Cecidomyiidae,Cerambycidae, Cercopidae, Chrysomelidae, Cicadellidae, Coccinellidae,Cryllotalpidae, Cucujidae, Curculionidae, Dermestidae, Elateridae,Gelechiidae, Lygaeidae, Meloidae, Membracidae, Miridae, Noctuidae,Pentatomidae, Pyralidae, Scarabaeidae, Silvanidae, Spingidae,Tenebrionidae and/or Thripidae. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise an insecticide (orcombination of insecticides) that is toxic to one or more species ofAcalymma, Acanthaoscelides (e.g., A. obtectus,), Anasa (e.g., A.tristis), Anastrepha (e.g., A. ludens), Anoplophora (e.g., A.glabripennis), Anthonomus (e.g., A. eugenii), Acyrthosiphon (e.g., A.pisum), Bactrocera (e.g., B. dosalis), Bemisia (e.g., B. argentifolii,B. tabaci), Brevicoryne (e.g., B. brassicae), Bruchidius (e.g., B.atrolineatus), Bruchus (e.g., B. atomarius, B. dentipes, B. lentis, B.pisorum and/or B. rufipes), Callosobruchus (e.g., C. chinensis, C.maculatus, C. rhodesianus, C. subinnotatus, C. theobromae), Caryedon(e.g., C. serratus), Cassadinae, Ceratitis (e.g., C. capitata),Chrysomelinae, Circulifer (e.g., C. tenellus), Criocerinae,Cryptocephalinae, Cryptolestes (e.g., C. ferrugineus, C. pusillis, C.pussilloides), Cylas (e.g., C. formicarius), Delia (e.g., D. antiqua),Diabrotica, Diaphania (e.g., D. nitidalis), Diaphorina (e.g., D. citri),Donaciinae, Ephestia (e.g, E. cautella, E. elutella, E., keuhniella),Epilachna (e.g., E. varivestris), Epiphyas (e.g., E. postvittana),Eumolpinae, Galerucinae, Helicoverpa (e.g., H. zea), Heteroligus (e.g.,H. meles), Jobesia (e.g., I. botrana), Lamprosomatinae, Lasioderma(e.g., L. serricorne), Leptinotarsa (e.g., L. decemlineata),Leptoglossus, Liriomyza (e.g., L. trifolii), Manducca, Melittia (e.g.,M. cucurbitae), Myzus (e.g., M. persicae), Nezara (e.g., N. viridula),Orzaephilus (e.g., O. merator, O. surinamensis), Ostrinia (e.g., O.nubilalis), Phthorimaea (e.g., P. operculella), Pieris (e.g., P. rapae),Plodia (e.g., P. interpunctella), Plutella (e.g., P. xylostella),Popillia (e.g., P. japonica), Prostephanus (e.g., P. truncates), Psila,Rhizopertha (e.g., R. dominica), Rhopalosiphum (e.g., R. maidis),Sagrinae, Solenopsis (e.g., S. Invicta), Spilopyrinae, Sitophilus (e.g.,S. granaries, S. oryzae and/or S. zeamais), Sitotroga (e.g., S.cerealella), Spodoptera (e.g., S. frugiperda), Stegobium (e.g., S.paniceum), Synetinae, Tenebrio (e.g., T. malens and/or T. molitor),Thrips (e.g., T. tabaci), Trialeurodes (e.g., T. vaporariorum),Tribolium (e.g., T. castaneum and/or T. confusum), Trichoplusia (e.g.,T. ni), Trogoderma (e.g., T. granarium) and Trogossitidae (e.g., T.mauritanicus). Additional species of insects that may be targeted byinoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be found inCAPINERA, HANDBOOK OF VEGETABLE PESTS (2001) and Steffey and Gray,Managing Insect Pests, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable nematicide(s) including, but not limited to, biologicalnematicides and chemical nematicides. Nematicides may be selected so asto provide effective control against a broad spectrum of nematodes,including, but not limited to, phytoparasitic nematodes from the classesChromadorea and Enoplea. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure comprise a nematicide (or combination ofnematicides) that is toxic to one or more strains of Anguina,Aphelenchoides, Belonolaimus, Bursaphelenchus, Ditylenchus, Globodera,Helicotylenchus, Heterodera, Hirschmanniella, Meloidogyne, Naccobus,Pratylenchus, Radopholus, Rotylenshulus, Trichodorus, Tylenchulus and/orXiphinema. Additional examples of nematodes that may be targeted byinoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be found inCAPINERA, HANDBOOK OF VEGETABLE PESTS (2001) and Niblack, Nematodes, inILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008).

As discussed above, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure maycomprise one or more biological insecticides and/or nematicides (i.e.,one or more microorganisms the presence and/or output of which is toxicto an acarid, insect and/or nematode).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more chemical insecticides and/or nematicides. Forexample, in some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more carbamates, diamides, macrocycliclactones, neonicotinoids, organophosphates, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethrins,spinosyns, synthetic pyrethroids, tetronic acids and/or tetramic acids.Non-limiting examples of chemical insecticides and nematicides that maybe useful in inoculant compositions of the present disclosure includeacrinathrin, alpha-cypermethrin, betacyfluthrin, cyhalothrin,cypermethrin, deltamethrin, csfenvalcrate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin,fenvalerate, flucythrinate, fosthiazate, lambda-cyhalothrin,gamma-cyhalothrin, permethrin, tau-fluvalinate, transfluthrin,zeta-cypermethrin, cyfluthri, bifenthrin, tefluthrin, eflusilanat,fubfenprox, pyrethrin, resmethrin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid,thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, dinotefuran, clothianidin,imidaclothiz, chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, lufenuron, teflubenzuron,triflumuron, novaluron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, bistrifluoron,noviflumuron, buprofezin, cyromazine, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide,halofenozide, chromafenozide, endosulfan, fipronil, ethiprole,pyrafluprole, pyriprole, flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole (e.g.,Rynaxypyr), cyazypyr, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, abamectin,ivermectin, milbemectin, lepimectin, tebufenpyrad, fenpyroximate,pyridaben, fenazaquin, pyrimidifen, tolfenpyrad, dicofol, cyenopyrafen,cyflumetofen, acequinocyl, fluacrypyrin, bifenazate, diafenthiuron,etoxazole, clofentezine, spinosad, triarathen, tetradifon, propargite,hexythiazox, bromopropylate, chinomethionat, amitraz, pyrifluquinazon,pymetrozine, flonicamid, pyriproxyfen, diofenolan, chlorfenapyr,metaflumizone, indoxacarb, chlorpyrifos, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen,spirotetramat, pyridalyl, spinctoram, acephate, triazophos, profenofos,oxamyl, spinetoram, fenamiphos, fenamipclothiahos,4-{[(6-chloropyrid-3-yl)methyl](2,2-difluoroethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-one,cadusaphos, carbaryl, carbofuran, ethoprophos, thiodicarb, aldicarb,aldoxycarb, metamidophos, methiocarb, sulfoxaflor, cyantraniliprole andtioxazafen and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise abamectin, aldicarb,aldoxycarb, bifenthrin, carbofuran, chlorantraniliporle, chlothianidin,cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, cyantraniliprole, deltamethrin,dinotefuran, emamectin, ethiprole, fenamiphos, fipronil, flubendiamide,fosthiazate, imidacloprid, ivermectin, lambda-cyhalothrin, milbemectin,nitenpyram, oxamyl, permethrin, spinetoram, spinosad, spirodichlofen,spirotetramat, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam and/or thiodicarb.In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise an insecticide selected from the group consisting ofclothianidin, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, cyantraniliprole,chlorantraniliprole, fluopyram and tioxazafen.

Additional examples of insecticides and nematicides that may be includedin inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be found inSteffey and Gray, Managing Insect Pests, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK(2008) and Niblack, Nematodes, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more commercial insecticides and nematicides used inaccordance with the manufacturer's recommended amounts/concentrations.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable fungicide(s), including, but not limited to, biologicalfungicides and chemical fungicides. Fungicides may be selected so as toprovide effective control against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenicfungi (and fungus-like organisms), including, but not limited to,soil-borne fungi from the classes Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes,Chytridiomycetes, Deuteromycetes (syn. Fungi imperfecti),Peronosporomycetes (syn. Oomycetes), Plasmodiophoromycetes andZygomycetes. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise a fungicide (or combination of fungicides) that istoxic to one or more strains of Albugo (e.g., A. candida), Alternaria(e.g., A. alternata), Aspergillus (e.g., A. candidus, A. clavatus, A.flavus, A. fumigatus, A. parasiticus, A. restrictus, A. sojae, A.solani), Blumeria (e.g., B. graminis), Botrytis (e.g., B. cinerea),Cladosporum (e.g., C. cladosporioides), Colletotrichum (e.g., C.acutatum, C. boninense, C. capsici, C. caudatum, C. coccodes, C.crassipes, C. dematium, C. destructivum, C. fiagariae, C.gloeosporioides, C. graminicola, C. kehawee, C. lindemuthianum, C.musae, C. orbiculare, C. spinaceae, C. sublineolum, C. trifolii, C.truncatum), Fusarium (e.g., F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F.oxysporum, F. roseum, F. tricinctum), Helminthosporium, Magnaporthe(e.g., M. grisea, M. oryzae), Melamspora (e.g., M. lini), Mycosphaerella(e.g., M. graminicola), Nematospora, Penicillium (e.g., P. rugulosum, P.verrucosum), Phakopsora (e.g., P. pachyrhizi), Phomopsis, Phytiphtoria(e.g., P. infestans), Puccinia (e.g., P. graminis, P. striiformis, P.tritici, P. triticina), Pucivinia (e.g., P. graministice), Pythium,Pytophthora, Rhizoctonia (e.g., R. solani), Scopulariopsis, Selerotinia,Thielaviopsis and/or Ustilago (e.g., U. maydis). Additional examples offungi that may be targeted by inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may be found in Bradley, Managing Diseases, in ILLINOISAGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008).

As discussed above, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure maycomprise one or more biological fungicides (i.e., one or moremicroorganisms the presence and/or output of which is toxic to afungus).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more chemical fungicides. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more aromatic hydrocarbons, benzimidazoles, benzthiadiazole,carboxamides, carboxylic acid amides, morpholines, phenylamides,phosphonates, quinone outside inhibitors (e.g. strobilurins),thiazolidines, thiophanates, thiophene carboxamides and/or triazoles.Non-limiting examples of chemical fungicides that may be useful ininoculant compositions of the present disclosure include strobilurins,such as azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin,enestroburin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin,orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin,pyraoxystrobin, pyribencarb, trifloxystrobin,2-[2-(2,5-dimethyl-phenoxymethyl)-phenyl]-3-methoxy-acrylic acid methylester and2-(2-(3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl-allylideneaminooxymethyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide;carboxamides, such as carboxanilides (e.g., benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M,benodanil, bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, fenhexamid,flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, isotianil, kiralaxyl,mepronil, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam), ofurace, oxadixyl,oxycarboxin, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane, tecloftalam,thifluzamide, tiadinil, 2-amino-4-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxanilide,N-(4′-trifluoromethylthiobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyra-zole-4-carboxamide,N-(2-(1,3,3-trimethylbutyl)-phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5-fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide),carboxylic morpholides (e.g., dimethomorph, flumorph, pyrimorph),benzoic acid amides (e.g., flumetover, fluopicolide, fluopyram,zoxamide), carpropamid, dicyclomet, mandiproamid, oxytetracyclin,silthiofam and N-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl) cyclopropanecarboxylic acidamide; azoles, such as triazoles (e.g., azaconazole, bitertanol,bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole,diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole,flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole,metconazole, myclobutanil, oxpoconazole, paclobutrazole, penconazole,propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole,tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole) andimidazoles (e.g., cyazofamid, imazalil, pefurazoate, prochloraz,triflumizol); heterocyclic compounds, such as pyridines (e.g.,fluazinam, pyrifenox (cf.D1b),3-[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine,3-[5-(4-methyl-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine),pyrimidines (e.g., bupirimate, cyprodinil, diflumetorim, fenarimol,ferimzone, mepanipyrim, nitrapyrin, nuarimol, pyrimethanil), piperazines(e.g., triforine), pirroles (e.g., fenpiclonil, fludioxonil),morpholines (e.g., aldimorph, dodemorph, dodemorph-acetate,fenpropimorph, tridemorph), piperidines (e.g., fenpropidin);dicarboximides (e.g., fluoroimid, iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin),non-aromatic 5-membered heterocycles (e.g., famoxadone, fenamidone,flutianil, octhilinone, probenazole,5-amino-2-isopropyl-3-oxo-4-ortho-tolyl-2,3-dihydro-pyrazole-1-carbothioicacid S-allyl ester), acibenzolar-S-methyl, ametoctradin, amisulbrom,anilazin, blasticidin-S, captafol, captan, chinomethionat, dazomet,debacarb, diclomezine, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-methylsulfate,fenoxanil, Folpet, oxolinic acid, piperalin, proquinazid, pyroquilon,quinoxyfen, triazoxide, tricyclazole,2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propylchromen-4-one,5-chloro-1-(4,6-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole and5-chloro-7-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine;benzimidazoles, such as carbendazim; and other active substances, suchas guanidines (e.g., guanidine, dodine, dodine free base, guazatine,guazatine-acetate, iminoctadine), iminoctadine-triacetate andiminoctadine-tris(albesilate); antibiotics (e.g., kasugamycin,kasugamycin hydrochloride-hydrate, streptomycin, polyoxine andvalidamycin A), nitrophenyl derivates (e.g., binapacryl, dicloran,dinobuton, dinocap, nitrothal-isopropyl, tecnazen). organometalcompounds (e.g., fentin salts, such as fentin-acetate, fentin chloride,fentin hydroxide); sulfur-containing heterocyclyl compounds (e.g.,dithianon, isoprothiolane), organophosphorus compounds (e.g.,edifenphos, fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminum, iprobenfos, phosphorus acid andits salts, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl), organochlorine compounds(e.g., chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, dichlorophen, flusulfamide,hexachlorobenzene, pencycuron, pentachlorphenole and its salts,phthalide, quintozene, thiophanate-methyl, thiophanate, tolylfluanid,N-(4-chloro-2-nitro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide) andinorganic active substances (e.g., Bordeaux mixture, copper acetate,copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, basic copper sulfate, sulfur) andcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure comprise acibenzolar-S-methyl, azoxystrobin,benalaxyl, bixafen, boscalid, carbendazim, cyproconazole, dimethomorph,epoxiconazole, fludioxonil, fluopyram, fluoxastrobin, flutianil,flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, fosetyl-A1, ipconazole, isopyrazam,kresoxim-methyl, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, metconazole, myclobutanil,orysastrobin, penflufen, penthiopyrad, picoxystrobin, propiconazole,prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin, sedaxane, silthiofam, tebuconazole,thiabendazole, thifluzamide, thiophanate, tolclofos-methyl,trifloxystrobin and triticonazole. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise azoxystrobin,pyraclostrobin, fluoxastrobin, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole,prothioconazole, sedaxane, fludioxonil, metalaxyl, mefenoxam,thiabendazole, fluxapyroxad and/or fluopyram.

Additional examples of fungicides that may be included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may be found in Bradley, ManagingDiseases, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable herbicide(s), including, but not limited to, biologicalherbicides and chemical herbicides. Herbicides may be selected so as toprovide effective control against a broad spectrum of plants, including,but not limited to, plants from the families Asteraceae,Caryophyllaceae, Poaceae and Polygonaceae. In some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise an herbicide(or combination of herbicides) that is toxic to one or more strains ofEchinochloa (e.g., E. brevipedicellata, E. callopus, E. chacoensis, E.colona, E. crus-galli, E. crus-pavonis, E. elliptica, E. esculenta, E.frumentacea, E. glabrescens, E. haploclada, E. helodes, E. holciformis,E. inundata, E. jaliscana, E. Jubata, E. kimberleyensis, E. lacunaria,E. macrandra, E. muricata, E. obtusiflora, E. oplismenoides, E.orzyoides, E. paludigena, E. picta, E. pithopus, E. polystachya, E.praestans, E. pyramidalis, E. rotundiflora, E. stagnina, E.telmatophila, E. turneriana, E. ugandensis, E. walteri), Fallopia (e.g.,F. baldschuanica, F. japonica, F. sachalinensis), Stellaria (e.g., S.media) and/or Taraxacum (e.g., T. albidum, T. aphrogenes, T.brevicorniculatum, T. californicum, T. centrasiatum, T. ceratophorum, T.erythrospermum, T. farinosum, T. holmboei, T. japonicum, T. kok-saghyz,T. laevigatum T. officinale, T. platycarpum). Additional species ofplants that may be targeted by inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may be found in Hager, Weed Management, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMYHANDBOOK (2008) and LOUX ET AL., WEED CONTROL GUIDE FOR OHIO, INDIANAAND ILLINOIS (2015).

As discussed above, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure maycomprise one or more biological herbicides (i.e., one or moremicroorganisms the presence and/or output of which is toxic to a plant).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more chemical herbicides. For example, in someembodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure compriseone or more acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, acetolactatesynthase (ALS) inhibitors, acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors,photosystem II inhibitors, photosystem I inhibitors, protoporphyrinogenoxidase (PPO or Protox) inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors,enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase inhibitor, glutaminesynthetase inhibitor, dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitor, mitosisinhibitors, 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate-dioxygenase (4-HPPD) inhibitors,synthetic auxins, auxin herbicide salts, auxin transport inhibitors,nucleic acid inhibitors and/or one or more salts, esters, racemicmixtures and/or resolved isomers thereof. Non-limiting examples ofchemical herbicides that may be useful in inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure include 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D),2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), ametryn, amicarbazone,aminocyclopyrachlor, acetochlor, acifluorfen, alachlor, atrazine,azafenidin, bentazon, benzofenap, bifenox, bromacil, bromoxynil,butachlor, butafenacil, butroxydim, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlorimuron,chlorotoluro, clethodim, clodinafop, clomazone, cyanazine, cycloxydim,cyhalofop, desmedipham, desmetryn, dicamba, diclofop, dimefuron, diuron,dithiopyr, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluometuron,flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen,fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafe, fomesafen, glyphosate, glufosinate,haloxyfop, hexazinone, imazamox, imazaquin, imazethapyr, ioxynil,isoproturon, isoxaflutole, lactofen, linuron, mecoprop, mecoprop-P,mesotrione, metamitron, metazochlor, methibenzuron, metolachlor (andS-metolachlor), metoxuron, metribuzin, monolinuron, oxadiargyl,oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, phenmedipham, pretilachlor, profoxydim,prometon, prometry, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propisochlor,pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrazon, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, pyridate,quizalofop, quizalofop-P (e.g., quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P-ethyl,clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop-methyl,fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop-methyl,haloxyfop-R-methyl), saflufenacil, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine,simetryn, sulcotrione, sulfentrazone, tebuthiuron, tembotrione,tepraloxydim, terbacil, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, thaxtomin (e.g., thethaxtomins described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,989,393), thenylchlor,tralkoxydim, triclopyr, trietazine, tropramezone, salts and estersthereof; racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof and combinationsthereof. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise acetochlor, clethodim, dicamba, flumioxazin,fomesafen, glyphosate, glufosinate, mesotrione, quizalofop,saflufenacil, sulcotrione, ethyl2-((3-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-1(6H)-yl)phenoxy)pyridin-2-yl)oxy)acetateand/or 2,4-D. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D, acetochlor,metolachlor, pyroxasulfone, flumioxazin, fomesafen, lactofen,metribuzin, mesotrione, and/or ethyl2-((3-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-1(6H)-yl)phenoxy)pyridin-2-yl)oxy)acetate.

Additional examples of herbicides that may be included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may be found in Hager, WeedManagement, in ILLINOIS AGRONOMY HANDBOOK (2008) and LOUX ET AL., WEEDCONTROL GUIDE FOR OHIO, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS (2015).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable plant signal molecule(s), including, but not limited to,lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), chitooligosaccharides (COs),chitinous compounds, flavonoids, jasmonic acid or derivatives thereof,linoleic acid or derivatives thereof, linolenic acid or derivativesthereof and karrikins.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable LCO(s). LCOs, sometimes referred to as symbiotic nodulation(Nod) signals or Nod factors, consist of an oligosaccharide backbone ofβ-1,4-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (“GIcNAc”) residues with an N-linkedfatty acyl chain condensed at the non-reducing end. LCOs differ in thenumber of GIcNAc residues in the backbone, in the length and degree ofsaturation of the fatty acyl chain and in the substitutions of reducingand non-reducing sugar residues. See, e.g., Denarie, et al., ANN. REV.BIOCHEM. 65:503 (1996); Hamel, et al., PLANTA 232:787 (2010); Prome, etal., PURE & APPL. CHEM. 70(1):55 (1998). Non-limiting examples of LCOsinclude the LCOs described in International Patent Application No.PCT/US2016/050529. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, ten, or more of the LCOs represented by structures V-XXXIIIof International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/050529 and/or one,two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more analogues,derivatives, hydrates, isomers, salts and/or solvates of LCOsrepresented by structures V-XXXIII of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2016/050529.

LCOs included in compositions and methods of the present disclosure maybe obtained from any suitable source. According to some embodiments, theLCO is obtained (i.e., isolated and/or purified) from a bacterialstrain. According to some embodiments, the inoculant compositioncomprises one or more LCOs obtained from a of Azorhizobium,Bradyrhizobium (e.g., B. japonicum), Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium (e.g., R.leguminosarum), or Sinorhizobium (e.g., S. meliloti). According to someembodiments, the LCO is obtained (i.e., isolated and/or purified) from amycorrhizal fungus. For example, in some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise one or more LCOsobtained from a strain of Glomerocycota (e.g., Glomus intraradicus).See, e.g., WO 2010/049751 (in which the LCOs are referred to as “Mycfactors”). According to some embodiments, the LCO is synthetic.According to some embodiments, the inoculant composition comprises oneor more of the synthetic LCOs described in WO 2005/063784, WO2007/117500 and/or WO 2008/071674. In some embodiments, the syntheticLCO contains one or more modifications or substitutions, such as thosedescribed in Spaink, CRIT. REV. PLANT SCI. 54:257 (2000) and D'Haeze,supra. LCOs and precursors for the construction of LCOs (e.g., COs,which are themselves useful as plant signal molecules) may besynthesized by genetically engineered organisms. See, e.g., Samain etal., CARBOHYDRATE RES. 302:35 (1997); Cottaz, et al., METH. ENG.7(4):311 (2005); and Samain, et al., J. BIOTECHNOL. 72:33 (1999) (e.g.,FIG. 1 therein, which shows structures of COs that can be maderecombinantly in E. coli harboring different combinations of genesnodBCHL).

LCOs (and derivatives thereof) may be utilized in various forms ofpurity and may be used alone or in the form of a culture ofLCO-producing bacteria or fungi. In some embodiments, the LCO(s)included in inoculant compositions of the present disclosure is/are atleast 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,99%, 99.5% or more pure.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable CO(s). COs, sometimes referred to asN-acetylchitooligosaccharides, are also composed of GIcNAc residues buthave side chain decorations that make them different from chitinmolecules [(C₈H₁₃NO₅)_(n), CAS No. 1398-61-4] and chitosan molecules[(C₅H₁₁NO₄)_(n), CAS No. 9012-76-4]. See, e.g., D'Haeze et al.,GLYCOBIOL. 12(6):79R (2002); Demont-Caulet et al., PLANT PHYSIOL.120(1):83 (1999); Hanel et al., PLANTA 232:787 (2010); Muller et al.,PLANT PHYSIOL. 124:733 (2000); Robina et al., TETRAHEDRON 58:521-530(2002); Rouge et al., Docking of Chitin Oligomers and Nod Factors onLectin Domains of the LysM-RLK Receptors in the Medicago-RhizobiumSymbiosis, in THE MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY OF COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES-3(Springer Science, 2011); Van der Holst et al., CURR. OPIN. STRUC. BIOL.11:608 (2001); and Wan et al., PLANT CELL 21:1053 (2009); PCT/F100/00803(2000). COs differ from LCOs in that they lack the pendant fatty acidchain that is characteristic of LCOs. Non-limiting examples of LCOsinclude the COs described in International Patent Application No.PCT/US2016/050529. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, ten, or more of the COs represented by structuresXXXVI-XXXIX of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/050529and/or one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ormore analogues, derivatives, hydrates, isomers, salts and/or solvates ofCOs represented by structures XXXVI-XXXIX of International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2016/050529.

COs included in compositions and methods of the present disclosure maybe obtained from any suitable source. According to some embodiments, theCO is derived from an LCO. According to some embodiments, the inoculantcomposition comprises one or more COs derived from an LCO obtained(i.e., isolated and/or purified) from a strain of Azorhizobium,Bradyrhizobium (e.g., B. japonicum), Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium (e.g., R.leguminosarum), Sinorhizobium (e.g., S. meliloti), or mycorhizzal fungus(e.g., Glomus intraradicus). In some embodiments, the CO is derived froman LCO represented by one or more of formulas I-IV and/or structuresV-XXXIII of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/050529.Thus, in some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise one or more COs represented by one or more ofstructures V-XXXIII of International Patent Application No.PCT/US2016/050529 except that the pendant fatty acid is replaced with ahydrogen or methyl group. According to some embodiments, the CO issynthetic. Methods for the preparation of recombinant COs are known inthe art. See, e.g., Cottaz et al., METH. ENG. 7(4):311 (2005); Samain etal., CARBOHYDRATE RES. 302:35 (1997.); and Samain et al., J. BIOTECHNOL.72:33 (1999).

COs (and derivatives thereof) may be utilized in various forms of purityand may be used alone or in the form of a culture of CO-producingbacteria or fungi. In some embodiments, the CO(s) included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure is/are at least 70%, 75%, 80%,85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or morepure.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable chitinous compound(s), including, but not limited to, chitin(IUPAC:N-[5-[[3-acetylamino-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2yl]methoxymethyl]-2-[[5-acetylamino-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yI]methoxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-ys]ethanamide),chitosan (IUPAC:5-amino-6-[5-amino-6-[5-amino-4,6-dihydroxy-2(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-2(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4-diol)and isomers, salts and solvates thereof. Chitins and chitosans, whichare major components of the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons ofinsects and crustaceans, are composed of GIcNAc residues. Chitins andchitosans included in compositions and methods of the present disclosuremay be obtained from any suitable source. Chitins and chitosans may beobtained commercially or prepared from insects, crustacean shells, orfungal cell walls. Methods for the preparation of chitin and chitosanare known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,207 (preparationfrom crustacean shells) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,545 (preparation fromcrab shells and hydrolysis of commercial chitosan); Pochanavanich, etal., LETT. APPL. MICROBIOL. 35:17 (2002) (preparation from fungal cellwalls). Deacetylated chitins and chitosans may be obtained that rangefrom less than 35% to greater than 90% deacetylation and cover a broadspectrum of molecular weights, e.g., low molecular weight chitosanoligomers of less than 15 kD and chitin oligomers of 0.5 to 2 kD;“practical grade” chitosan with a molecular weight of about 15 kD; andhigh molecular weight chitosan of up to 70 kD. Chitin and chitosancompositions formulated for seed treatment are commercially available.Commercial products include, for example, ELEXA® (Plant DefenseBoosters, Inc.) and BEYOND™ (Agrihouse, Inc.).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable flavonoid(s), including, but not limited to, anthocyanidins,anthoxanthins, chalcones, coumarins, flavanones, flavanonols, flavansand isoflavonoids, as well as analogues, derivatives, hydrates, isomers,polymers, salts and solvates thereof. Flavonoids are phenolic compoundshaving the general structure of two aromatic rings connected by athree-carbon bridge. Classes of flavonoids include are known in the art.See, e.g., Jain et al., J. PLANT BIOCHEM. & BIOTECHNOL. 11:1 (2002);Shaw et al., ENVIRON. MICROBIOL. 11:1867 (2006). Flavonoid compounds arecommercially available, e.g., from Novozymes BioAg, Saskatoon, Canada;Natland International Corp., Research Triangle Park, N.C.; MPBiomedicals, Irvine, Calif.; LC Laboratories, Woburn Mass. Flavonoidcompounds may be isolated from plants or seeds, e.g., as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,702,752; 5,990,291; and 6,146,668. Flavonoid compoundsmay also be produced by genetically engineered organisms, such as yeast,as described in Ralston et al., PLANT PHYSIOL. 137:1375 (2005).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more anthocyanidins. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise cyanidin,delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, peonidin and/or petunidin.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more anthoxanthins. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or moreflavones (e.g., apigenin, baicalein, chrysin, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone,diosmin, flavoxate, 6-hydroxyflavone, luteolin, scutellarein, tangeritinand/or wogonin) and/or flavonols (e.g., amurensin, astragalin,azaleatin, azalein, fisetin, furanoflavonols galangin, gossypetin,3-hydroxyflavone, hyperoside, icariin, isoquercetin, kaempferide,kaempferitrin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, morin, myricetin, myricitrin,natsudaidain, pachypodol, pyranoflavonols quercetin, quericitin,rhamnazin, rhamnetin, robinin, rutin, spiraeoside, troxerutin and/orzanthorhamnin).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more flavanones. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise butin,eriodictyol, hesperetin, hesperidin, homoeriodictyol, isosakuranetin,naringenin, naringin, pinocembrin, poncirin, sakuranetin, sakuraninand/or sterubin.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more flavanonols. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprisedihydrokaempferol and/or taxifolin.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more flavans. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or moreflavan-3-ols (e.g., catechin (C), catechin 3-gallate (Cg), epicatechins(EC), epigallocatechin (EGC) epicatechin 3-gallate (ECg),epigallcatechin 3-gallate (EGCg), epiafzelechin, fisetinidol,gallocatechin (GC), gallcatechin 3-gallate (GCg), guibourtinidol,mesquitol, robinetinidol, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3′-gallate,theflavin-3,3′-digallate, thearubigin), flavan-4-ols (e.g., apiforoland/or luteoforol) and/or flavan-3,4-diols (e.g., leucocyanidin,leucodelphinidin, leucofisetinidin, leucomalvidin, luecopelargonidin,leucopeonidin, leucorobinetinidin, melacacidin and/or teracacidin)and/or dimers, trimers, oligomers and/or polymers thereof (e.g., one ormore proanthocyanidins).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more isoflavonoids. For example, in some embodiments,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise one or moreisoflavones (e.g, biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein and/orglycitein), isoflavanes (e.g., equol, ionchocarpane and/orlaxifloorane), isoflavandiols, isoflavenes (e.g., glabrene, haginin Dand/or 2-methoxyjudaicin), coumestans (e.g., coumestrol, plicadin and/orwedelolactone), pterocarpans and/or roetonoids.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable flavonoid derivative, including, but not limited to,neoflavonoids (e.g, calophyllolide, coutareagenin, dalbergichromene,dalbergin, nivetin) and pterocarpans (e.g., bitucarpin A, bitucarpin B,erybraedin A, erybraedin B, erythrabyssin II, erthyrabissin-1,erycristagallin, glycinol, glyceollidins, glyceollins, glycyrrhizol,maackiain, medicarpin, morisianine, orientanol, phaseolin, pisatin,striatine, trifolirhizin).

Flavonoids and derivatives thereof may be incorporated into inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure in any suitable form, including,but not limited to, polymorphic and crystalline forms.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable non-flavonoid node-gene inducer(s), including, but not limitedto, jasmonic acid ([1R-[1a,2β(Z)]]-3-oxo-2-(pentenyl)cyclopentaneaceticacid; JA), linoleic acid ((Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid) and linolenicacid ((Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid), as well as analogues,derivatives, hydrates, isomers, polymers, salts and solvates thereof.

Jasmonic acid and its methyl ester, methyl jasmonate (MeJA),collectively known as jasmonates, are octadecanoid-based compounds thatoccur naturally in some plants (e.g., wheat), fungi (e.g.,Botryodiplodia theobromae, Gibberella fujikuroi), yeast (e.g.,Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli).Linoleic acid and linolenic acid may be produced in the course of thebiosynthesis ofjasmonic acid. Jasmonates, linoleic acid and linolenicacid (and their derivatives) are reported to be inducers of nod geneexpression or LCO production by rhizobacteria. See, e.g., Mabood, et al.PLANT PHYSIOL. BIOCHEM. 44(11):759 (2006); Mabood et al., AGR. J.98(2):289 (2006); Mabood, et al., FIELD CROPS RES. 95(2-3):412 (2006);Mabood & Smith, Linoleic and linolenic acid induce the expression of nodgenes in Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 3, PLANT BIOL. (2001).

Useful derivatives ofjasmonic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid thatmay be useful in compositions of the present disclosure include esters,amides, glycosides and salts. Representative esters are compounds inwhich the carboxyl group of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, or jasmonicacid has been replaced with a —COR group, where R is an —OR¹ group, inwhich R¹ is: an alkyl group, such as a C₁-C₈ unbranched or branchedalkyl group, e.g., a methyl, ethyl or propyl group; an alkenyl group,such as a C₂-C₈ unbranched or branched alkenyl group; an alkynyl group,such as a C₂-C₈ unbranched or branched alkynyl group; an aryl grouphaving, for example, 6 to 10 carbon atoms; or a heteroaryl group having,for example, 4 to 9 carbon atoms, wherein the heteroatoms in theheteroaryl group can be, for example, N, O, P, or S. Representativeamides are compounds in which the carboxyl group of linoleic acid,linolenic acid, or jasmonic acid has been replaced with a —COR group,where R is an NR²R³ group, in which R² and R³ are independently:hydrogen; an alkyl group, such as a C₁-C₈ unbranched or branched alkylgroup, e.g., a methyl, ethyl or propyl group; an alkenyl group, such asa C₂-C₈ unbranched or branched alkenyl group; an alkynyl group, such asa C₂-C₈ unbranched or branched alkynyl group; an aryl group having, forexample, 6 to 10 carbon atoms; or a heteroaryl group having, forexample, 4 to 9 carbon atoms, wherein the heteroatoms in the heteroarylgroup can be, for example, N, O, P, or S. Esters may be prepared byknown methods, such as acid-catalyzed nucleophilic addition, wherein thecarboxylic acid is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of acatalytic amount of a mineral acid. Amides may also be prepared by knownmethods, such as by reacting the carboxylic acid with the appropriateamine in the presence of a coupling agent such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), under neutral conditions. Suitable salts of linoleicacid, linolenic acid and jasmonic acid include e.g., base additionsalts. The bases that may be used as reagents to prepare metabolicallyacceptable base salts of these compounds include those derived fromcations such as alkali metal cations (e.g., potassium and sodium) andalkaline earth metal cations (e.g., calcium and magnesium). These saltsmay be readily prepared by mixing together a solution of linoleic acid,linolenic acid, or jasmonic acid with a solution of the base. The saltsmay be precipitated from solution and be collected by filtration or maybe recovered by other means such as by evaporation of the solvent.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprisekarrakin(s), including, but not limited to, 2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-ones,as well as analogues, derivatives, hydrates, isomers, polymers, saltsand solvates thereof. In some embodiments, the inoculant compositioncomprises one or more karrakins represented by formula XXXX ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/050529 in which Z is O,S or NR₅; R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each independently H, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, phenyloxy,benzyloxy, CN, COR₆, COOR═, halogen, NR₆R₇, or NO₂; and R₅, R₆ and R₇are each independently H, alkyl or alkenyl, or a biologically acceptablesalt thereof. Non-limiting examples of biologically acceptable salts ofkarrakins may include acid addition salts formed with biologicallyacceptable acids, examples of which include hydrochloride, hydrobromide,sulphate or bisulphate, phosphate or hydrogen phosphate, acetate,benzoate, succinate, fumarate, maleate, lactate, citrate, tartrate,gluconate; methanesulphonate, benzenesulphonate and p-toluenesulphonicacid. Additional biologically acceptable metal salts may include alkalimetal salts, with bases, examples of which include the sodium andpotassium salts. Examples of compounds embraced by formula XXXX andwhich may be suitable for use in the present disclosure include3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁═CH₃, R₂, R₃, R₄═H),2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄═H),7-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₂, R₄═H, R₃═CH₃),5-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₂, R₃═H, R₄═CH₃),3,7-dimethyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₃═CH₃, R₂, R₄═H),3,5-dimethyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₄═CH₃, R₂, R₃═H),3,5,7-trimethyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁, R₃, R₄═CH₃, R₂═H),5-methoxymethyl-3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (where R₁═CH₃, R₂,R₃═H, R₄═CH₂OCH₃), 4-bromo-3,7-dimethyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (whereR₁, R₃═CH₃, R₂═Br, R₄═H), 3-methylfuro[2,3-c]pyridin-2(3H)-one (whereZ═NH, R₁═CH₃, R₂, R₃, R₄═H) and 3,6-dimethylfuro[2,3-c]pyridin-2(6H)-one(where Z═N—CH₃, R₁═CH₃, R₂, R₃, R₄═H). See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,576,213; Halford, Smoke Signals, in CHEM. ENG. NEWS (Apr. 12, 2010)(reporting that karrikins or butenolides contained in smoke act asgrowth stimulants and spur seed germination after a forest fire and caninvigorate seeds such as corn, tomatoes, lettuce and onions that hadbeen stored).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprisegluconolactone and/or one or more analogues, derivatives, hydrates,isomers, polymers, salts and/or solvates thereof.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable excipient(s), including, but not limited to, anti-freezingagents, drying agents, safeners and pH bufferss.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable agriculturally acceptable anti-freezing agent(s), including,but not limited to, ethylene glycol, glycerin, propylene glycol andurea.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable agriculturally acceptable drying agent(s), including, but notlimited to, drying powders. For example, in some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure comprise calcium stearate, clay(e.g., attapulgite clay, montmorillonite clay), graphite, magnesiumstearate, magnesium sulfate, powdered milk, silica (e.g., fumed silica,hydrophobically-coated silica, precipitated silica), soy lecithin and/ortalc. Non-limiting examples of drying agents that may be useful incompositions of the present disclosure include AEROSIL® hydrophobicfumed silica powders (Evonik Corporation, Parsippany, N.J.), BENTOLITE®powders (BYK-Chemie GmbH, Wesel, Germany), SIPERNAT® silica powders(Evonik Corporation, Parsippany, N.J.) and combinations thereof.Additional examples of drying agents that may be included in inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may be found in BURGES,FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL BIOPESTICIDES: BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS,NEMATODES AND SEED TREATMENTS (Springer Science & Business Media)(2012).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise any seedflowability agent to improve the lubricity of the treated seeds. Theflowability agent may comprise one or more liquid lubricants, solidlubricants, liquid emulsions, or suspensions of solid lubricants.Non-limiting examples of flowability agents include, for example,lubricants such as fats and oils, natural and synthetic waxes, graphite,talc, fluoropolymers (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene), and solidlubricants such as molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide. In someinstances, the flowability agent comprises a wax material. Non-limitingexamples of wax materials that can be incorporated into the liquid seedtreatment composition include plant and animal-derived waxes such ascarnauba wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, beeswax, spermaceti, andpetroleum derived waxes, such as paraffin wax. For example, in someinstances, the flowability agent comprises carnauba wax. In someinstances, the flowability agent comprises an oil. For example, theflowability agent may comprise soybean oil. Non-limiting examples ofcommercially available wax materials suitable for use as flowabilityagents include AQUAKLEAN 418 supplied by Micro Powders, Inc. (an anionicaqueous emulsion comprising extra light carnauba wax at 35% solidscontent).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable safener(s), including, but not limited to, napthalic anhydride.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable pH buffer(s), including, but not limited to, potassiumphosphate monobasic and potassium phosphate dibasic.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable adhesive(s), including, but not limited to, adhesivecompositions comprising one or more maltodextrins and/or one or moremono-, di- or oligosaccharides. Inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may be formulated into any suitable type of composition,including, but not limited to, seed coatings, soil inoculants and foliarinoculants.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable anti-settling agent(s), including, but not limited to,polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohols with different degrees ofhydrolysis, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyacrylates, acrylate-, polyol- orpolyester-based paint system binders which are soluble or dispersible inwater, moreover copolymers of two or more monomers such as acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleicanhydride, vinylpyrrolidone, ethylenically unsaturated monomers such asethylene, butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, styrene, divinylbenzene,ot-methylstyrene or p-methylstyrene, further vinyl halides such as vinylchloride and vinylidene chloride, additionally vinyl esters such asvinyl acetate, vinyl propionate or vinyl stearate, moreover vinyl methylketone or esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with monohydricalcohols or polyols such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethylacrylate, ethylene methacrylate, lauryl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate,decyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylamino-ethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate or glycidyl methacrylate,furthermore diethyl esters or monoesters of unsaturated dicarboxylicacids, furthermore (meth)acrylamido-N-methylol methyl ether, amides ornitriles such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide,acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and also N-substituted maleiraides andethers such as vinyl butyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether or vinyl phenylether, and combinations thereof.

Biostimulants, microbial extracts, nutrients, pest attractants and/orfeeding stimulants, pesticides, plant signal molecules, dispersants,drying agents, anti-freezing agents, safeners, flowability agents,anti-settling agents, buffers, etc. may be incorporated into inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure in any suitableamount(s)/concentration(s). The absolute value of theamount/concentration that is/are sufficient to cause the desiredeffect(s) may be affected by factors such as the type, size and volumeof material to which the composition will be applied, the type(s) ofmicroorganisms in the composition, the number of microorganisms in thecomposition, the stability of the microorganism(s) in the compositionand storage conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, duration).Those skilled in the art will understand how to select effectiveamounts/concentrations using routine dose-response experiments. Guidancefor the selection of appropriate amounts/concentrations can be found,for example, in International Patent Application Nos. PCT/US2016/050529and PCT/US2016/050647.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more biostimulants in an amount/concentration of about0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the biostimulant(s) (e.g., glycine and/or seaweedextract) comprise(s) about about 0.0001, 0.0002, 0.0003, 0.0004, 0.0005,0.0006, 0.0007, 0.0008, 0.0009, 0.001, 0.0015, 0.002, 0.0025, 0.003,0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005, 0.0055, 0.006, 0.0065, 0.007, 0.0075,0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035,0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.02, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5,0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 to about 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7,1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7,4.8, 4.9, 5% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. For example,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise about0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008,0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8,0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1,2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6,3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% ormore (by weight) of one or more biostimulants (e.g., glycine and/orseaweed extract).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more microbial extracts in an amount/concentration ofabout 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of the inoculantcomposition. In some embodiments, the microbial extract(s) comprise(s)about 0.0001, 0.0002, 0.0003, 0.0004, 0.0005, 0.0006, 0.0007, 0.0008,0.0009, 0.001, 0.0015, 0.002, 0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045,0.005, 0.0055, 0.006, 0.0065, 0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009,0.0095, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06,0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.02, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 toabout 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8,3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% (by weight) ofthe inoculant composition. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002,0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04,0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4,0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1,1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6,2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1,4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% or more (by weight) of one ormore microbial extracts.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more nutrients in an amount/concentration of about0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the nutrient(s) (e.g., phosphorous, boron, chlorine,copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and/or zinc) comprise(s) about0.0001, 0.0002, 0.0003, 0.0004, 0.0005, 0.0006, 0.0007, 0.0008, 0.0009,0.001, 0.0015, 0.002, 0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005,0.0055, 0.006, 0.0065, 0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095,0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07,0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.02, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 to about 1,1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5,2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4,4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% (by weight) of theinoculant composition. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002,0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04,0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4,0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1,1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6,2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1,4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% or more (by weight) of one ormore the nutrients (e.g., phosphorous, boron, chlorine, copper, iron,manganese, molybdenum and/or zinc).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more pest attractant(s) and/or feeding stimulant(s) inan amount/concentration of about 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight)of the inoculant composition. In some embodiments, the pestattractant(s) and/or feeding stimulant(s) comprise(s) about 0.0001,0.0002, 0.0003, 0.0004, 0.0005, 0.0006, 0.0007, 0.0008, 0.0009, 0.001,0.0015, 0.002, 0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005, 0.0055,0.006, 0.0065, 0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095, 0.01, 0.015,0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09,0.1, 0.02, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 to about 1, 1.1, 1.2,1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7,2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2,4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% (by weight) of the inoculantcomposition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003,0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05,0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5,0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9,3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4,4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% or more (by weight) of one or more pestattractants and/or feeding stimulants.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more LCOs at a concentration of about 1×10⁻¹⁵ M to about1×10⁻¹⁰ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M, or about 1×10⁻⁸ M to about1×10⁻² M. For example, inoculant compositions of the present disclosuremay comprise about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M,1×10⁻⁹ M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M, 1×10⁻³ M,1×10⁻² M, 1×10⁻¹ M or more of one or more LCOs (e.g., one, two, three,four or more of the LCOs set forth in International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2016/050529). In some embodiments, one or more LCOscomprise(s) about 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of thecomposition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005,0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3,3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% or more of one or more LCOs. In some embodiments, theamount/concentration of LCO(s) is about 0.005 to about 2% (by weight) ofthe composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more COs at a concentration of about 1×10⁻¹⁵ M to about1×10⁻¹⁰ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M, or about 1×10⁻⁸ M to about1×10⁻² M. For example, inoculant compositions of the present disclosuremay comprise about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M, 1×10⁻¹⁶M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁰ M,1×10⁻⁹ M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M, 1×10⁻³ M,1×10⁻² M, 1×10⁻¹ M or more of one or more COs (e.g., one, two, three,four or more of the COs set forth in International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2016/050529). In some embodiments, one or more COs comprise(s)about 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of the composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02,0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3,0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% ormore of one or more COs. In some embodiments, the amount/concentrationof CO(s) is about 0.005 to about 2% (by weight) of the composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more chitins at a concentration of about 1×10⁻¹⁵ M toabout 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M toabout 1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M toabout 1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M, or about 1×10⁻⁸ M toabout 1×10⁻² M. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M,1×10⁻¹⁰ M, 1×10⁻⁹ M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M,1×10⁻³ M, 1×10⁻² M, 1×10⁻¹ M or more of one or more chitins. In someembodiments, one or more chitins comprise(s) about 0.0001 to about 5% ormore (by weight) of the composition. For example, inoculant compositionsof the present disclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002,0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07,0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1,1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% or more of one or more chitins. Insome embodiments, the amount/concentration of chitin(s) is about 0.005to about 2% (by weight) of the composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more chitosans at a concentration of about 1×10⁻¹⁵ M toabout 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁴ M toabout 1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M to about 1×10⁻⁸ M, about 1×10⁻¹² M toabout 1×10⁻⁶ M, about 1×10⁻¹⁰ M to about 1×10⁻⁶ M, or about 1×10⁻⁸ M toabout 1×10⁻² M. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷M, 1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M,1×10⁻¹⁰ M, 1×10⁻⁹ M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M,1×10⁻³ M, 1×10⁻² M, 1×10⁻¹ M or more of one or more chitosans. In someembodiments, one or more chitosans comprise(s) about 0.0001 to about 5%or more (by weight) of the composition. For example, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.001,0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06,0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75,1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% or more of one or morechitosans. In some embodiments, the amount/concentration of chitosan(s)is about 0.005 to about 2% (by weight) of the composition.

In some embodiments, the inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise one or more flavonoids at a concentration of about1×10⁻²⁰ M to about 1×10⁻¹ M. For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise one or more flavonoids at aconcentration of about 1×10⁻²⁰ M, 1×10⁻¹⁹ M, 1×10⁻¹⁸ M, 1×10⁻¹⁷ M,1×10⁻¹⁶ M, 1×10⁻¹⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹⁴ M, 1×10⁻¹³ M, 1×10⁻¹² M, 1×10⁻¹¹ M,1×10⁻¹⁰ M, 1×10⁻⁹ M, 1×10⁻⁸ M, 1×10⁻⁷ M, 1×10⁻⁶ M, 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻⁴ M,1×10⁻³ M, 1×10⁻² M, 1×10⁻¹ M. In some embodiments, the flavonoidconcentration is 1×10⁻¹⁴ M to 1×10⁻⁵ M, 1×10⁻¹² M to 1×10⁻⁶ M, or1×10⁻¹⁰ M to 1×10⁻⁷ M. In some embodiments, one or more flavonoidscomprise(s) about 0.0001 to about 5% or more (by weight) of thecomposition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005,0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3,3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% or more of one or more flavonoids. In some embodiments,the amount/concentration of flavonoid(s) is about 0.005 to about 2% (byweight) of the composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more dispersants in an amount/concentration of about0.001 to about 25% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the dispersant(s) comprise(s) 0.001, 0.0015, 0.002,0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005, 0.0055, 0.006, 0.0065,0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025,0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.02, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8,1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3,3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8,4.9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 to about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5,5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19 or 20% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. For example,inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may comprise about0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8,8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20% or more (by weight) of one or more dispersants(e.g., one or more surfactants and/or wetting agents).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more drying agents in an amount/concentration of about0.001 to about 95% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Insome embodiments, the drying agent(s) comprise(s) about) 0.001, 0.0015,0.002, 0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005, 0.0055, 0.006,0.0065, 0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02,0.025, 0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1,0.02, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5,1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3,3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5,4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 to about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5,4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19 or 20% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2,0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5,8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75,80, 85, 90, 95% or more (by weight) of one or more drying agents (e.g.,lecithin and/or talc).

In some embodiments, the inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure comprise about 0.5 to about 10 grams of drying powder perliter of inoculant composition. For example, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure may comprise about 0.5, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2,2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5,7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10 grams or more of drying powder per liter ofinoculant composition.

In some embodiments, In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure comprise one or more anti-settling agents in anamount/concentration of about 0.0001 to about 10% or more (by weight) ofthe composition. For example, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure may comprise about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005,0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3,3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10% or more of oneor more anti-settling agents. In some embodiments, theamount/concentration of anti-settling agents is about 0.01 to about 5%(by weight) of the composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more buffers in an amount/concentration of about 0.0001to about 5% or more (by weight) of the inoculant composition. In someembodiments, the buffer(s) comprise(s) about 0.0001, 0.0002, 0.0003,0.0004, 0.0005, 0.0006, 0.0007, 0.0008, 0.0009, 0.001, 0.0015, 0.002,0.0025, 0.003, 0.0035, 0.004, 0.0045, 0.005, 0.0055, 0.006, 0.0065,0.007, 0.0075, 0.008, 0.0085, 0.009, 0.0095, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025,0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.02, 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 to about 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5,1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3,3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5,4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% (by weight) of the inoculant composition. Forexample, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may compriseabout 0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007,0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1,0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75,0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2,2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5,3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5%or more (by weight) of one or more buffers (e.g., potassium phosphatemonobasic and/or potassium phosphate dibasic).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise one or more commercial carriers, antioxidants, oxygenscavengers, hygroscopic polymers, UV protectants, biostimulants,microbial extracts, nutrients, pest attractants and/or feedingstimulants, pesticides, plant signal molecules, dispersants, dryingagents, anti-freezing agents, safeners, flowability agents,anti-settling agents, buffers and/or adhesives used in accordance withthe manufacturer's recommended amounts/concentrations.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare formulated as non-aqueous formulations in which at least 0.01, 0.05,0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% of the microbial spores and/or vegetative cellsin the inoculant composition remain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare formulated as non-aqueous formulations in which at least 1×10¹,1×10², 1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰ or morecolony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of inoculant compositionremain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureimprove both the survival rate and one, two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight, nine, ten or more microbial stability characteristics ofthe microbial spores and/or vegetative cells contained therein.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureimprove the dispersion of microbial spores and/or vegetative cellscontained therein by at least about 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105,110, 115, 120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as compared to a controlcomposition (e.g., a control composition that is identical to theinoculant composition of the present disclosure except that it lacks oneor more of the components found in the inoculant composition and/orcontains one or more components not found in the inoculant compositionof the present disclosure). For example, inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure may improve the dispersion of one or more of themicrobial spores and/or vegetative cells contained therein by at leastabout 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as comparedto a control composition that is identical to the inoculant compositionexcept that lacks one or more of the protectants/dispersants found inthe inoculant composition and/or comprises a reducedamount/concentration of one or more of the protectants/dispersants foundin the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureimprove the dispersion of one or more of the microbial spores and/orvegetative cells contained therein to the extent that at least about 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more of the microbial sporesand/or vegetative cells are present as single cells/spores (rather thanas members of a clump comprising two or more cells/spores).

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureexhibit enhanced flowability as compared to a control composition (e.g.,a control composition that is identical to the inoculant composition ofthe present disclosure except that it lacks one or more of thecomponents found in the inoculant composition and/or contains one ormore components not found in the inoculant composition of the presentdisclosure). For example, the flowability of inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure may be improved by at least about 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105,110, 115, 120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as compared to a controlcomposition that is identical to the inoculant composition except thatlacks one or more of the protectants/dispersants found in the inoculantcomposition and/or comprises a reduced amount/concentration of one ormore of the protectants/dispersants found in the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare formulated as amorphous liquids.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise no water.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise a trace amount of water.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurecomprise less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09,0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7,0.75 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95 or 1% water by weight, based upon the totalweight of the composition.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosurehave a pH of about 4.5 to about 9.5. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure have a pH of about 6 to about7.5. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure have a pH of about 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 or 8.5.

As noted above, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure maycomprise agriculturally beneficial constituents, such as biostimulants,microbial extracts, nutrients, pesticides and plant signal molecules. Itis to be understood that agriculturally beneficial constituents may alsobe used in conjunction with inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the present disclosure extends to systems and methodsof using inoculant compositions of the present disclosure in conjunctionwith compositions comprising one or more agriculturally beneficialconstituents (e.g., a second composition comprising one or more LCOsand/or COs, a third composition comprising one or more fungicides,herbicides, insectides and/or netamicides, etc.).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be formulated forthe treatment of any suitable plant type, including, but not limited to,row crops and vegetables. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions ofthe present disclosure are formulated for the treatment of one or moreplants selected from Amaranthaceae (e.g., chard, spinach, sugar beet,quinoa), Asteraceae (e.g., artichoke, asters, chamomile, chicory,chrysanthemums, dahlias, daisies, echinacea, goldenrod, guayule,lettuce, marigolds, safflower, sunflowers, zinnias), Brassicaceae (e.g.,arugula, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower,canola, collard greens, daikon, garden cress, horseradish, kale,mustard, radish, rapeseed, rutabaga, turnip, wasabi, watercress,Arabidopsis thaliana), Cucurbitaceae (e.g., cantaloupe, cucumber,honeydew, melon, pumpkin, squash (e.g., acorn squash, butternut squash,summer squash), watermelon, zucchini), Fabaceae (e.g., alfalfa, beans,carob, clover, guar, lentils, mesquite, peas, peanuts, soybeans,tamarind, tragacanth, vetch), Malvaceae (e.g., cacao, cotton, durian,hibiscus, kenaf, kola, okra), Poaceae (e.g., bamboo, barley, corn,fonio, lawn grass (e.g., Bahia grass, Bermudagrass, bluegrass,Buffalograss, Centipede grass, Fescue, or Zoysia), millet, oats,ornamental grasses, rice, rye, sorghum, sugar cane, triticale, wheat),Polygonaceae (e.g., buckwheat), Rosaceae (e.g., almonds, apples,apricots, blackberry, blueberry, cherries, peaches, plums, quinces,raspberries, roses, strawberries), Solanaceae (e.g., bell peppers, chilipeppers, eggplant, petunia, potato, tobacco, tomato) and Vitaceae (e.g.,grape). In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the presentdisclosure are formulated for the treatment of one or more fungicide-,herbicide-, insecticide- and/or nematicide-resistant plants (e.g., oneor more plants resistant to acetolactate synthase inhibitors.Non-limiting examples of plants that may be treated with inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure include plants sold by MonsantoCompany (St. Louis, Mo.) under the BOLLGARD II®, DROUGHTGARD®, GENUITY®,RIB COMPLETE®, ROUNDUP READY®, ROUNDUP READY 2 YIELD®, ROUNDUP READY 2EXTEND™, SMARTSTAX®, VT DOUBLE PRO®, VT TRIPLE PRO®, YIELDGARD®,YIELDGARD VT ROOTWORM/RR2®, YIELDGARD VT TRIPLE® and/or XTENDFLEX™tradenames.

The present disclosure extends to plants that have been treated withinoculant compositions of the present disclosure, plant parts harvestedfrom plants that have been treated with inoculant compositions of thepresent disclosure, processed products derived from plants that havebeen treated with inoculant compositions of the present disclosure andcrops comprising a plurality of plants that have been treated withinoculant compositions of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure also provides coated plant propagation materialscomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a plantpropagation material and a coating that covers at least a portion of theouter surface of the plant propagation material, said coatingcomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an inoculantcomposition of the present disclosure.

The coating may comprise one, two, three, four, five or more layers. Insome embodiments, the coating comprises an inner layer that contains oneor more microorganisms and one or more outer layers free orsubstantially free of microorganisms. In some embodiments, the innerlayer of the coating is an inoculant composition of the presentdisclosure and the outer layer is equivalent to an inoculant compositionof the present disclosure but it lacks one or more microorganisms. Forexample, coated plant propagation materials of the present disclosuremay comprise a seed that is coated with an inner layer that comprisesmicrobial spores (e.g., spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, oneor more strains of Gliocladium, one or more strains of Glomus, one ormore strains of Metarhizium, one or more strains of Penicillium and/orone or more strains of Trichoderma), one or more protectants and one ormore dispersants in a non-aqueous carrier and an outer layer thatcomprises the same carrier but is free of microbial spores. In someembodiments, the coating comprises, consists essentially of, or consistsof an inoculant composition of the present disclosure and a dryingpowder. For example, coated plant propagation materials of the presentdisclosure may comprise a seed that is coated with an inoculantcomposition comprising microbial spores (e.g., spores of one or morestrains of Bacillus, one or more strains of Gliocladium, one or morestrains of Glomus, one or more strains of Metarhizium, one or morestrains of Penicillium and/or one or more strains of Trichoderma), oneor more protectants and one or more dispersants in a non-aqueous carrierand is then covered with a drying powder (e.g., a drying power thatcomprises calcium stearate, one or more clays, graphite, magnesiumstearate, magnesium sulfate, powdered milk, silica, soy lecithin and/ortalc).

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be coated on plantpropagation materials in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). Insome embodiments, the inoculant composition is applied in an amountranging from about 0.5 to about 1000 milliliters of inoculantcomposition per kilogram of plant propagation material. For example, insome embodiments, about 0.5, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3,3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9,9.5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350,400, 450, 500 milliliters or more of inoculant composition is appliedper kilogram of seed. In some embodiments, an inoculant compositioncomprising one or more protectants and one or more microbial spores(e.g., spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, one or more strains ofGliocladium, one or more strains of Glomus, one or more strains ofMetarhizium, one or more strains of Penicillium and/or one or morestrains of Trichoderma) is applied at a rate of about 2, 2.25, 2.5,2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, or 4 milliliters per kilogram of seed.

Drying powders may be applied in any suitableamount(s)/concentration(s). In some embodiments, the drying powder isapplied in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 10 grams of dryingpowder per kilogram of plant propagation material. For example, in someembodiments, about 0.5, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25,3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5,10 grams or more of drying powder (e.g., drying powder comprisingmagnesium stearate, magnesium sulfate, powdered milk, silica, soylecithin and/or talc) is applied per kilogram of seed. In someembodiments, a drying powder comprising calcium stearate, attapulgiteclay, montmorillonite clay, graphite, magnesium stearate, silica (e.g.,fumed silica, hydrophobically-coated silica and/or precipitated silica)and/or talc is applied to seeds coated with an inoculant compositioncomprising one or more maltodextrins (e.g., one or more maltodextrinshaving a DEV of about 15 to about 20) and one or more microbial spores(e.g., spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, one or more strains ofGliocladium, one or more strains of Glomus, one or more strains ofMetarhizium, one or more strains of Penicillium and/or one or morestrains of Trichoderma) at a rate of about 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25,2.5, 2.75, or 3 grams per kilogram of seed.

In some embodiments, the coating covers about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75,80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5% or more of the outer surface ofthe plant propagation material.

In some embodiments, the average thickness of the coating is at least1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8,2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 μm or more. In some embodiments, theaverage thickness of the coating is about 1.5 to about 3.0 μm.

In some embodiments, the coating comprises one or more effect pigments.Effect pigments, which are sometimes also referred to in the art as“pearl pigments,” are a class of materials that provide reflectivity,shine, and/or a pearlescent effect when applied as a coating. In someinstances, the effect pigment is in the form of a powder comprising asubstrate material and a metal oxide coating. For example, the effectpigment may comprise a substrate material including but not limited totalc, silicate materials (e.g., mica), clay minerals, calcium carbonate,kaolin, phlogopite, alumina, and similar substances. In some instances,the substrate material comprises a hydrophilic material. The substratematerial may be coated with a semi-transparent layer of a metal oxide,including but not limited to titanium dioxide, iron oxide, chromiumoxide, or zirconium oxide. Alternatively, in some instances, the effectpigment comprises metal powder or metal flakes. The metal powder ormetal flakes may comprise a metal including, but not limited toaluminum, copper, silver, or bronze. In some instances, the effectpigment comprises a silicate based substrate. Non-limiting examples ofparticulate silicates that can be incorporated into the dry powdercoating include mica coated with titanium dioxide (e.g., SUNMICA FINEWHITE 2800102, which is commercially available from Sun Chemical Corp.).Other non-limiting examples of commercially available effect pigmentsthat can be incorporated into the dry powder include MAGNA PEARL, LUMINAand MEARLIN pigments from BASF Corporation; PHIBRO PEARL fromPhibroChem; and IRIDESIUM 120 from Aakash Chemicals. In some instances,the dry powder has a mean particle size of from about 1 to about 25microns.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be used to coat anysuitable plant propagation materials, including, but not limited to,cuttings (e.g., leaves, stems), rhizomes, seeds and tubers. In someembodiments, the plant propagation material is a seed.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be used to coatplant propagation materials of any suitable plant type, including, butnot limited to, row crops and vegetables. In some embodiments, inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure are coated on propagationmaterial derived from one or more plants selected from Amaranthaceae(e.g., chard, spinach, sugar beet, quinoa), Asteraceae (e.g., artichoke,asters, chamomile, chicory, chrysanthemums, dahlias, daisies, echinacea,goldenrod, guayule, lettuce, marigolds, safflower, sunflowers, zinnias),Brassicaceae (e.g., arugula, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts,cabbage, cauliflower, canola, collard greens, daikon, garden cress,horseradish, kale, mustard, radish, rapeseed, rutabaga, turnip, wasabi,watercress, Arabidopsis thaliana), Cucurbitaceae (e.g., cantaloupe,cucumber, honeydew, melon, pumpkin, squash (e.g., acorn squash,butternut squash, summer squash), watermelon, zucchini), Fabaceae (e.g.,alfalfa, beans, carob, clover, guar, lentils, mesquite, peas, peanuts,soybeans, tamarind, tragacanth, vetch), Malvaceae (e.g., cacao, cotton,durian, hibiscus, kenaf, kola, okra), Poaceae (e.g., bamboo, barley,corn, fonio, lawn grass (e.g., Bahia grass, Bermudagrass, bluegrass,Buffalograss, Centipede grass, Fescue, or Zoysia), millet, oats,ornamental grasses, rice, rye, sorghum, sugar cane, triticale, wheat),Polygonaceae (e.g., buckwheat), Rosaceae (e.g., almonds, apples,apricots, blackberry, blueberry, cherries, peaches, plums, quinces,raspberries, roses, strawberries), Solanaceae (e.g., bell peppers, chilipeppers, eggplant, petunia, potato, tobacco, tomato) and Vitaceae (e.g.,grape). Non-limiting examples of plant propagation materials that may becoated with inoculant compositions of the present disclosure includeseeds sold by Monsanto Company (St. Louis, Mo.) under the BOLLGARD II®,DROUGHTGARD®, GENUITY®, RIB COMPLETE®, ROUNDUP READY®, ROUNDUP READY 2YIELD®, ROUNDUP READY 2 EXTEND™, SMARTSTAX®, VT DOUBLE PRO®, VT TRIPLEPRO®, YIELDGARD®, YIELDGARD VT ROOTWORM/RR2®, YIELDGARD VT TRIPLE®and/or XTENDFLEX™ tradenames.

The present disclosure extends to plants that grow from coated plantpropagation materials of the present disclosure, plant parts harvestedfrom plants that grow from coated plant propagation materials of thepresent disclosure, processed products derived from plants that growfrom coated plant propagation materials of the present disclosure andcrops comprising a plurality of plants that grow from coated plantpropagation materials of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure also provides kits comprising, consistingessentially of, or consisting of a coated plant propagation material ofthe present disclosure and a container housing the coated plantpropagation material. In some embodiments, the kit further comprises oneor more oxygen scavengers, such as activated carbon, ascorbic acid, ironpowder, mixtures of ferrous carbonate and metal halide catalysts, sodiumchloride and/or sodium hydrogen carbonate.

The container may comprise any suitable material(s), including, but notlimited to, materials that reduce the amount of light, moisture and/oroxygen that contact the coated plant propagation material when thecontainer is sealed.

In some embodiments, the container comprises, consists essentially of,or consists of a material having light permeability of less than about1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70 or 75%.

In some embodiments, the container reduces the amount of ambient lightthat reaches said coated plant propagation material by about 5, 10, 15,20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100%when sealed.

In some embodiments, the container reduces the amount of ambientmoisture that reaches said plant propagation material by about 5, 10,15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or100% when sealed.

In some embodiments, the container comprises, consists essentially of,or consists of a material having an oxygen transmission rate of lessthan about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100,125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450,475, or 500 cm³/m²·day (as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985).

In some embodiments, the container reduces the amount of ambient oxygenthat reaches said plant propagation material by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% whensealed.

In some embodiments, kits of the present disclosure comprise 1, 2, 3, 4,5 or more additional containers. The additional containers may compriseany suitable component(s) or composition(s), including, but not limitedto, agriculturally beneficial microorganisms, biostimulants, dryingagents, nutrients, oxidation control components and pesticides. Examplesof agriculturally beneficial microorganisms, biostimulants, dryingagents, nutrients, oxidation control components and pesticides that maybe included in the additional containers are described above.

The present disclosure also provides animal feed compositionscomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a food componentand a microbial component, said microbial component comprising,consisting essentially of, or consisting of an inoculant composition ofthe present disclosure.

Animal feed compositions of the present disclosure may comprise anysuitable food component, including, but not limited to, fodder (e.g.,grains, hay, legumes, silage and/or straw) and forage (e.g., grass).

Animal feed compositions of the present disclosure may be fed to anysuitable animal, including, but not limited to, farm animals, zooanimals, laboratory animals and/or companion animals. In someembodiments, the animal feed composition is formulated to meet thedietary needs of birds (e.g., chickens, ducks, quails and/or turkeys),bovids (e.g., antelopes, bison, cattle, gazelles, goats, impala, oxen,sheep and/or wildebeests), canines, cervids (e.g., caribou, deer, elkand/or moose), equines (e.g., donkeys, horses and/or zebras), felines,fish, pigs, rabbits, rodents (e.g., guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and/orrats) and the like.

The present disclosure also provides methods comprising, consistingessentially of, or consisting of applying an inoculant composition ofthe present disclosure to a plant or plant part.

Inoculant compositions of the present disclosure may be applied in anysuitable manner, including, but not limited to, on-seed application,in-furrow application and foliar application.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare applied to plant propagation materials (e.g., seeds) at least 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more prior to planting.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare applied to plant propagation materials (e.g., seeds) at the time ofplanting.

Plant propagation materials may be treated using any suitable method(s),including, but not limited to, coating, dripping, spraying and soaking.Batch systems, in which predetermined batch sizes of material andinoculant composition are delivered into a mixer, may be employed.Continuous treatment systems, which are calibrated to apply inoculantcomposition at a predefined rate in proportion to a continuous flow ofmaterial, may also be employed.

In some embodiments, plant propagation materials are soaked for at least0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 36, 48 hours or more in an inoculantcomposition of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, plant propagation materials (e.g., seeds) arecoated by applying an inoculant composition of the present disclosure tothe inside wall of a round container, adding the seeds, then rotatingthe container such that the seeds come into contact with thecomposition, a process known in the art as “container coating”.

In some embodiments, an inoculant composition of the present disclosureis freeze- spray- or spray-freeze-dried and then applied to plantpropagation material. For examples, in some embodiments, an inoculantcomposition comprising one or more maltodextrins (e.g., one or moremaltodextrins having a DEV of about 15 to about 20), one or moremicrobial spores (e.g., spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, oneor more strains of Gliocladium, one or more strains of Glomus, one ormore strains of Metarhizium, one or more strains of Penicillium and/orone or more strains of Trichoderma) and one or more disaccharides (e.g.,maltose) is freeze- spray- or spray-freeze-dried, mixed with a dryingpowder (e.g., a drying powder comprising calcium stearate, attapulgiteclay, montmorillonite clay, graphite, magnesium stearate, silica (e.g.,fumed silica, hydrophobically-coated silica and/or precipitated silica)and/or talc), then coated on seed that was been pre-treated with one ormore adhesives (e.g., an adhesive composition comprising one or moremaltodextrins, one or more mono-, di- or oligosaccharides, one or morepeptones, etc.), one or more pesticides and/or one or more plant signalmolecules (e.g., one or more LCOs).

The present disclosure also provides methods comprising, consistingessentially of, or consisting of planting a coated seed of the presentdisclosure.

The present disclosure also provides methods of enhancing the survivaland/or stability of microbial spores in a composition, said methodscomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of adding aneffective amount of one or more protectants to said composition.

Protectants may be used to improve any suitable microbial stabilitycharacteristic(s) of the microbial spores in a composition, including,but not limited to, the ability of the microbial spores in a compositionto enhance plant yield after being coated on a seed and stored for adefined period of time prior to planting the seed. For example, theaddition of one or more protectants to a composition enhances theability of the microbial spores therein to propagate and increase yieldafter being coated on a plant propagation material (e.g., seed) andstored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more.

In some embodiments, the addition of one or more protectants to acomposition improves the stability of one or more microbial sporestherein by at least about 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115,120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as compared to microbial spores in acontrol composition (e.g., a control composition that is identical tothe inoculant composition of the present disclosure except that it lacksone or more of the components found in the inoculant composition and/orcontains one or more components not found in the inoculant compositionof the present disclosure). For example, the addition of one or moreprotectants to a composition may improve one or more microbial stabilitycharacteristics of one or more microbial spores therein by at leastabout 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as comparedto a control composition that is identical to the inoculant compositionexcept that lacks one or more of the protectants found in the inoculantcomposition and/or comprises a reduced amount of one or more of theprotectants found in the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, the addition of one or more protectants to acomposition improves the stability of one or more microbial sporestherein by at least about 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115,120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as compared to a control composition(e.g., a control composition that is identical to the inoculantcomposition of the present disclosure except that it lacks one or moreof the components found in the inoculant composition and/or contains oneor more components not found in the inoculant composition of the presentdisclosure). For example, the addition of one or more protectants to acomposition may improve the survival rate of one or more of themicrobial spores contained therein by at least about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110,115, 120, 125, 150, 175, 200% or more as compared to a controlcomposition that is identical to the inoculant composition except thatlacks one or more of the protectants found in the inoculant compositionand/or comprises a reduced amount of one or more of the protectantsfound in the inoculant composition.

In some embodiments, the addition of one or more protectants to acomposition improves the survival of one or more of the microbial sporesin an inoculant composition to the extent that at least at least 0.01,0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% of the microbial spores and/orvegetative cells in the inoculant composition remain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, the addition of one or more protectants to acomposition improves the survival of one or more of the microbial sporesin an inoculant composition to the extent that at least 1×10¹, 1×10²,1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰ or morecolony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of inoculant compositionremain viable following:

storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for aperiod of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72,76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more;

desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

cryopreservation at or below −80° C. for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more;

application to plant propagation material (optionally, seed);

application to plant propagation material and desiccation by about 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95%or more;

application to a plant propagation material and storage at 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39and/or 40° C. and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more;

foliar application;

foliar application and desiccation by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more; and/or

foliar application and exposure to temperatures of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. andrelative humidities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more for a period of 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 days or more.

In some embodiments, the addition of one or more maltodextrins to acomposition improves both the survival rate and one, two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more microbial stabilitycharacteristics of the microbial spore(s) contained therein.

Any suitable protectant(s) may be added to the composition, including,but not limited to monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides,maltodextrins, sugar alcohols, humic acids, malt extracts, peatextracts, skim milk extracts, betaines, prolines, sarcosines, peptones,oxidation control components, hygroscopic polymers and UV protectants.

In some embodiments, one or more of the protectants described above withrespect to inoculant compositions of the present disclosure is/are addedto the composition. For example, in some embodiments, one or moremonosaccharides and/or disaccharides (e.g., arabinose, fructose,glucose, maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose) and one or more sugaralcohols (e.g., arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol) are addedto the composition to enhance the stability and/or survival of themicrobial spores therein.

Protectants may be added to the composition in any suitableamount(s)/concentration(s). The absolute value of theamount/concentration/dosage of protectant(s) sufficient to cause thedesired effect may be affected by factors such as the type, size andvolume of material to which the composition will be applied, thestability of the microbial spores in the composition, the identity andamounts/concentrations of other components in the inoculant composition,and storage conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, duration).Those skilled in the art will understand how to select an effectiveamount/concentration/dosage using routine dose-response experiments.Those skilled in the art will understand how to select an effectiveamount/concentration/dosage using routine dose-response experiments.Guidance for the selection of appropriate amounts/concentrations can befound, for example, in International Patent Application Nos.PCT/US2016/050529 and PCT/US2016/050647 and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 62/296,798; 62/271,857; 62/347,773; 62/343,217;62/296,784; 62/271,873; 62/347,785; 62/347,794; 62/347,805; 62/436,517and 62/436,529.

In some embodiments, the protectant(s) is/are added to the compositionuntil it/they are present in an amount/concentration described abovewith respect to inoculant compositions of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, one or more monosaccharides,disaccharides, maltodextrins, sugar alcohols and/or humic acids may beadded to the composition until it/they comprise about/at least/less than0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2,0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4,4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10% of the composition (byweight, based upon the total weight of the composition). Similarly, oneor more oxidation control components and/or UV protectants may be addedthe composition until it/they comprise about/at least/less than 0.0005,0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05,0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5,0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5% of the composition (byweight, based upon the total weight of the composition). In someembodiments, In some embodiments, one or more monosaccharides and/ordisaccharides (e.g., arabinose, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucroseand/or trehalose) and one or more sugar alcohols (e.g., arabitol,mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol) are added to the composition until itare present in amounts/concentrations described above with respect toinoculant compositions of the present disclosure. For example, in someembodiments, one or more monosaccharides and/or disaccharides (e.g.,arabinose, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose) and oneor more sugar alcohols (e.g., arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/orxylitol) are added to the composition until they each/collectivelycomprise about/at least/less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06,0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75,1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9,10% of the composition (by weight, based upon the total weight of thecomposition).

Protectants may be added to the composition in any suitable ratio(s).For example, in some embodiments, one or more monosaccharides and/ordisaccharides (e.g., arabinose, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucroseand/or trehalose) and one or more sugar alcohols (e.g., arabitol,mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol) are added to the composition in amono- and/or disaccharide:sugar alcohol ratio of about 50:50, 55:45,60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 95:5. The presentdisclosure also provides systems and methods of using inoculantcompositions of the present disclosure in conjunction with additionalcompositions comprising one or more agriculturally beneficialconstituents. The additional composition(s) may comprise any suitableagriculturally beneficial constituent(s), including, but not limited to,the agriculturally beneficial constituents described above.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare used in conjunction with one or more on-seed compositions, one ormore in-furrow compositions and/or one or more foliar-appliedcompositions.

In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosureare used as part of an integrated disease and/or pest management system.

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described in thefollowing numbered paragraphs:

1. An inoculant composition, comprising, consisting essentially of, orconsisting of:

microbial spores; and

a non-aqueous carrier.

2. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise about 0.1% to about 50% (byweight) of said inoculant composition, optionally about 5 to about 15%(by weight) of said composition, optionally about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.

3. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores are present in said inoculant compositionin a concentration ranging from about 1×10¹ to about 1×10²⁰colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of said inoculantcomposition, optionally 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹,1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹², 1×10¹³, 1×10¹⁴, 1×10¹⁵ or more colony-formingunits per gram and/or milliliter of said inoculant composition.

4. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more diazotrophic microorganisms.

5. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, optionally one ormore strains of Bacillus circulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillusmacerans, Bacillus megatarium, Bacillus polymyxa and/or Bacilluspumilus.

6. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms.

7. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Penicillium, optionally oneor more strains of P. bilaiae and/or P. gaestrivorus.

8. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Trichoderma, optionally oneor more strains of T. asperellum, T. atroviride, T. fertile, T. gamsii,T. hamatum, T. harzianum, T. reesi, T. virens and/or T. viridae.

9. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more mycorrhizal fungi.

10. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Gliocladium, optionally oneor more strains of Gliocladium virens, one or more strains of Glomus,optionally one or more strains of Glomus intraradices, and/or one ormore strains of Metarhizium, optionally, one or more strains ofMetarhizium anisopliae.

11. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Bacillus, optionallyBacillus amyloliquefaciens D747, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRLB-50349, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TJ1000, Bacillus amyloliquefaciensFZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42, Bacillus amyloliquefaciensIN937a, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT-45, Bacillus amyloliquefaciensTJ1000, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBI600, Bacillus amyloliquefaciensBS27 (deposited as NRRL B-5015), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BS2084(deposited as NRRL B-50013), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 15AP4 (depositedas ATCC PTA-6507), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 3AP4 (deposited as ATCCPTA-6506), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LSSA01 (deposited as NRRLB-50104), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ABP278 (deposited as NRRL B-50634),Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 1013 (deposited as NRRL B-50509), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 918 (deposited as NRRL B-50508), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens 22CP1 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6508) and Bacillusamyloliquefaciens BS18 (deposited as NRRL B-50633), Bacillus cereus1-1562, Bacillus firmus 1-1582, Bacillus lichenformis BA842 (depositedas NRRL B-50516), Bacillus lichenformis BL21 (deposited as NRRLB-50134), Bacillus mycoides NRRL B-21664, Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-21662,Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-30087, Bacillus pumilus ATCC 55608, Bacilluspumilus ATCC 55609, Bacillus pumilus GB34, Bacillus pumilus KFP9F,Bacillus pumilus QST 2808, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 55078, Bacillussubtilis ATCC 55079, Bacillus subtilis MBI 600, Bacillus subtilis NRRLB-21661, Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-21665, Bacillus subtilis CX-9060,Bacillus subtilis GB03, Bacillus subtilis GB07, Bacillus subtilisQST-713, Bacillus subtilis FZB24, Bacillus subtilis D747, Bacillussubtilis 3BP5 (deposited as NRRL B-50510), Bacillus thuringiensis ATCC13367, Bacillus thuringiensis GC-91, Bacillus thuringiensis NRRLB-21619, Bacillus thuringiensis ABTS-1857, Bacillus thuringiensis SAN401 I, Bacillus thuringiensis ABG-6305, Bacillus thuringiensis ABG-6346,Bacillus thuringiensis AM65-52, Bacillus thuringiensis SA-12, Bacillusthuringiensis SB4, Bacillus thuringiensis ABTS-351, Bacillusthuringiensis HD-1, Bacillus thuringiensis EG 2348, Bacillusthuringiensis EG 7826, Bacillus thuringiensis EG 7841, Bacillusthuringiensis DSM 2803, Bacillus thuringiensis NB-125 and/or Bacillusthuringiensis NB-176.

12. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains of Gliocladium, optionallyGliocladium virens ATCC 52045 and/or Gliocladium virens GL-21, one ormore strains of Glomus, optionally Glomus intraradices RTI-801, one ormore strains of Metarhizium, optionally Metarhizium anisopliae F52,Penicillium, optionally Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 18309, Penicilliumbilaiae ATCC 20851, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 22348, Penicillium bilaiaeNRRL 50162, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL50776, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50779, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50780,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50781, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50782,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50783, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50784,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50785, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50786,Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50787, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50788,Penicillium bilaiae RS7B-SD1, Penicillium brevicompactum AgRF18,Penicillium canescens ATCC 10419, Penicillium expansum ATCC 24692,Penicillium expansum YT02, Penicillium fellatanum ATCC 48694,Penicillium gaestrivorus NRRL 50170, Penicillium glabrum DAOM 239074,Penicillium glabrum CBS 229.28, Penicillium janthinellum ATCC 10455,Penicillium lanosocoeruleum ATCC 48919, Penicillium radicum ATCC 201836,Penicillium radicum FRR 4717, Penicillium radicum FRR 4719, Penicilliumradicum N93/47267 and/or Penicillium raistrickii ATCC 10490, and/or oneor more strains of Trichoderma, optionally Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1,Trichoderma asperellum ICC 012, Trichoderma atroviride LC52, Trichodermaatroviride CNCM 1-1237, Trichoderma fertile JM41R, Trichoderma gamsiiICC 080, Trichoderma hamatum ATCC 52198, Trichoderma harzianum ATCC52445, Trichoderma harzianum KRL-AG2, Trichoderma harzianum T-22,Trichoderma harzianum TH-35, Trichoderma harzianum T-39, Trichodermaharzianum ICC012, Trichoderma reesi ATCC 28217, Trichoderma virens ATCC58678, Trichoderma virens G1-3, Trichoderma virens GL-21, Trichodermavirens G-41, Trichoderma viridae ATCC 52440, Trichoderma viridae ICC080and/or Trichoderma viridae TV1.

13. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains having a genomic sequence thatis at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more identical to anyof the strains recited in paragraph 11 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequenceidentity.

14. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprise, consist essentially of, orconsist of spores of one or more strains having a genomic sequence thatis at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more identical to anyof the strains recited in paragraph 12 on the basis of internaltranscribed spacer (ITS) and/or cytochrome c oxidase (CO1) sequenceidentity.

15. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said microbial spores comprises, consists essentially of, orconsists of spores of one or more biopesticides, optionally one or morebiofungicides, one or more bioinsecticides and/or one or morebionematicides.

16. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises about 70 to about 99% (byweight) of said inoculant composition, optionally about 75 to about 95%(by weight) of said composition, optionally about 80, 80.5, 81, 81.5,82, 82.5, 83, 83.5, 84, 84.5, 85, 85.5, 86, 86.5, 87, 87.5, 88, 88.5,89, 89.5 or 90% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.

17. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises, consists essentially of orconsists of a non-aqueous liquid carrier.

18. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises a non-aqueous solid carrier.

19. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises less than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03,0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35,0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95 or 1%water by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition.

20. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises no water.

21. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprise, consist essentially of orconsists of a seed- and/or soil-compatible carrier.

22. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises, consists essentially of orconsists of one or more oils, optionally one or more mineral oils and/orvegetable oils.

23. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises, consists essentially of orconsists of one or more polyethylene glycols, optionally PEG 200, PEG300 and/or PEG 400.

24. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said non-aqueous carrier comprises, consists essentially of orconsists of one or more polypropylene glycols, optionally PPG-9, PPG-10,PPG-17, PPG-20 and/or PPG-26.

25. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more protectants.

26. The inoculant composition of paragraph 25, wherein said one or moreprotectants comprise about 0.0001 to about 10% (by weight) of saidcomposition, optionally about 2 to about 6% (by weight) of saidcomposition, optionally about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005,0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5,5.5, 6, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10% (by weight) of said composition.

27. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 25-26, whereinsaid one or more protectants comprises comprises:

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose;

one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins (e.g.,one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEV valueof about 15 to about 20;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol;

one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/or sodiumhumate;

one or more hygroscopic polymers, optionally one or more albumins,alginates, celluloses, gums (e.g., cellulose gum, guar gum, gum arabic,gum combretum, xantham gum), methyl celluloses, nylons, pectins,polyacrylic acids, polycarbonates, polyethylene glycols (PEG),polyethylenimines (PEI), polylactides, polymethylacrylates (PMA),polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP),propylene glycols, sodium carboxymethyl celluloses and/or starches;

one or more oxidation control components, optionally one or moreantioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbylstearate, calcium ascorbate, one or more carotenoids, lipoic acid, oneor more phenolic compounds (e.g., one or more flavonoids, flavonesand/or flavonols), potassium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, one or morethiols (e.g., glutathione, lipoic acid and/or N-acetyl cysteine), one ormore tocopherols, one or more tocotrienols, ubiquinone and/or uric acid)and/or one or more oxygen scavengers, optionally ascorbic acid and/orsodium hydrogen carbonate; and/or

one or more UV protectants, optionally one or more lignosulfites.

28. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 25-27, whereinsaid one or more protectants comprises comprises, consists essentiallyof or consists of:

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucroseand/or trehalose;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol,sorbitol and/or xylitol;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/orsodium humate;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more oxidation control components, optionallyascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or morelignosulfites;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/or sodiumhumate;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more oxidation control components, optionally ascorbic acidand/or glutathione;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or more lignosulfites;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more sugar alcohols,optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more humic acids, optionallypotassium humate and/or sodium humate;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more oxidation controlcomponents, optionally ascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more UV protectants,optionally one or more lignosulfites;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humateand/or sodium humate;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more oxidation control components, optionallyascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or morelignosulfites; or

one or more oxidation control components, optionally ascorbic acidand/or glutathione, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one ormore lignosulfites.

29. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more dispersants.

30. The inoculant composition of paragraph 29, wherein said one or moredispersants comprise about 0.1 to about 5% (by weight) of saidcomposition, optionally about 0.1 to about 2% (by weight) of saidcomposition, optionally about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,0.9, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5% (by weight) of saidcomposition.

31. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 29-30, whereinsaid one or more dispersants comprises:

one or more anionic surfactants, optionally one or more alkylcarboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl amido ethersulfates, alkyl aryl polyether sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl amide sulfonates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl diphenyloxide sulfonate,alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, paraffinsulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates,alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamates, alkylsulfoacetates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acylsarconsinates, acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates,N-acyl-N-alkyltaurates, benzene sulfonates, cumene sulfonates, dioctylsodium sulfosuccinate, ethoxylated sulfosuccinates, lignin sulfonates,linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, monoglyceride sulfates,perfluorobutanesulfonate, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phosphate ester,styrene acrylic polymers, toluene sulfonates and/or xylene sulfonates

one or more cationic surfactants, optionally one or morealkyltrimethylammonium salts, cetylpyridinium chloride, benzalkoniumchloride, benzethonium chloride, 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane,dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide,dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and/or octenidine dihydrochloride;and/or

one or more non-ionic surfactants, optionally one or more alcoholethoxylates, alkanolamides, alkanolamine condensates, carboxylic acidesters, cetostearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cocamide DEA,dodecyldimethylamine oxides, ethanolamides, ethoxylates of glycerolester and glycol esters, ethylene oxide polymers, ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide copolymers, glucoside alkyl ethers, glycerol alkylethers, glycerol esters, glycol alkyl ethers, glycol alkylphenol ethers,glycol esters, monolaurin, pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ethers,poloxamer, polyamines, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polysorbate,polyoxyethylenated fatty acids, polyoxyethylenated mercaptans,polyoxyethylenated polyoxyproylene glycols, polyoxyethylene glycolsorbitan alkyl esters, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycolcopolymers, polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, polyvinylpynolidones, sugar-based alkyl polyglycosides, sulfoanylamides, sorbitanfatty acid alcohol ethoxylates, sorbitan fatty acid ester ethoxylates,sorbitan fatty acid ester and/or tertiary acetylenic glycols; and/or

one or more wetting agents, optionally one or more naphthalenesulfonates, optionally one or more alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, one ormore isopropyl naphthalene sulfonates and/or one or more butylnaphthalene sulfonates.

32. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 29-31, whereinsaid one or more dispersants comprises one or more polyoxyethylene alkylethers, one or more acrylic copolymers, one or more polyoxyethylenesorbitan trioleates and/or one or more secondary alcohol ethoxylates.

33. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more pesticides,optionally:

one or more insecticides and/or nematicides, optionally one or morecarbamates, diamides, macrocyclic lactones, neonicotinoids,organophosphates, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethrins, spinosyns, syntheticpyrethroids, tetronic acids and/or tetramic acids;

one or more fungicides, optionally one or more aromatic hydrocarbons,benzimidazoles, benzthiadiazole, carboxamides, carboxylic acid amides,morpholines, phenylamides, phosphonates, quinone outside inhibitors,thiazolidines, thiophanates, thiophene carboxamides and/or triazoles;and/or

one or more herbicides, optionally one or more acetyl CoA carboxylase(ACCase) inhibitors, acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors,acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors, photosystem II inhibitors,photosystem I inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO or Protox)inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase inhibitor, glutamine synthetaseinhibitor, dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitor, mitosis inhibitors,4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate-dioxygenase (4-HPPD) inhibitors, syntheticauxins, auxin herbicide salts, auxin transport inhibitors, and/ornucleic acid inhibitors.

34. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one morelipo-chitooligosaccharides, optionally one or morelipo-chitooligosaccharides represented by formulas I-IV.

35. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one morelipo-chitooligosaccharides, optionally one or more of thelipo-chitooligosaccharides represented by structures V-XXXIII.

36. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or morechitooligosaccharides, optionally one or more chitooligosaccharidesrepresented by formulas XXXIV-XXXV.

37. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or morechitooligosaccharides, optionally one or more chitooligosaccharidesrepresented by structures XXXVI-XXXIX.

38. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more chitinouscompounds, optionally one or more chitins and/or one or more chitosans.

39. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more flavonoids,optionally:

one or more anthocyanidins, optionally cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin,pelargonidin, peonidin and/or petunidin;

one or more anthoxanthins, optionally one or more flavones, such asapigenin, baicalein, chrysin, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, diosmin, flavoxate,6-hydroxyflavone, luteolin, scutellarein, tangeritin and/or wogonin;and/or flavonols, such as amurensin, astragalin, azaleatin, azalein,fisetin, furanoflavonols galangin, gossypetin, 3-hydroxyflavone,hyperoside, icariin, isoquercetin, kaempferide, kaempferitrin,kaempferol, isorhamnetin, morin, myricetin, myricitrin, natsudaidain,pachypodol, pyranoflavonols quercetin, quericitin, rhamnazin, rhamnetin,robinin, rutin, spiraeoside, troxerutin and/or zanthorhamnin;

one or more flavanones, optionally butin, eriodictyol, hesperetin,hesperidin, homoeriodictyol, isosakuranetin, naringenin, naringin,pinocembrin, poncirin, sakuranetin, sakuranin and/or sterubin;

one or more flavanonols, optionally dihydrokaempferol and/or taxifolin;flavans, such as flavan-3-ols (e.g., catechin (C), catechin 3-gallate(Cg), epicatechins (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC) epicatechin 3-gallate(ECg), epigallcatechin 3-gallate (EGCg), epiafzelechin, fisetinidol,gallocatechin (GC), gallcatechin 3-gallate (GCg), guibourtinidol,mesquitol, robinetinidol, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3′-gallate,theflavin-3,3′-digallate, thearubigin), flavan-4-ols (e.g., apiforoland/or luteoforol) and/or flavan-3,4-diols (e.g., leucocyanidin,leucodelphinidin, leucofisetinidin, leucomalvidin, luecopelargonidin,leucopeonidin, leucorobinetinidin, melacacidin and/or teracacidin);and/or

one or more isoflavonoids, optionally one or more isoflavones, such asbiochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein and/or glycitein;isoflavanes, such as equol, ionchocarpane and/or laxifloorane;isoflavandiols; isoflavenes, such asglabrene, haginin D and/or2-methoxyjudaicin; coumestans, such as coumestrol, plicadin and/orwedelolactone; pterocarpans; and/or roetonoids; and/or

one or more neoflavonoids, optionally calophyllolide, coutareagenin,dalbergichromene, dalbergin and/or nivetin; and/or

one or more pterocarpans, optionally bitucarpin A, bitucarpin B,erybraedin A, erybraedin B, erythrabyssin II, erthyrabissin-1,erycristagallin, glycinol, glyceollidins, glyceollins, glycyrrhizol,maackiain, medicarpin, morisianine, orientanol, phaseolin, pisatin,striatine and/or trifolirhizin.

40. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises jasmonic acid and/or one ormore derivatives thereof.

41. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises linoleic acid and/or one ormore derivatives thereof.

42. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises linolenic acid and/or oneor more derivatives thereof.

43. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more karrakins,optionally one or more karrakins represented by formula XXXX.

44. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises gluconolactone.

45. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more drying agents,optionally calcium stearate, one or more clays, graphite, magnesiumstearate, magnesium sulfate, powdered milk, one or more silica powders,soy lecithin and/or talc.

46. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more biostimulants,optionally one or more seaweed extracts, one or more humic acids, one ormore fulvic acids, myo-inositol and/or glycine.

47. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more microbialextracts, optionally one or more extracts from media comprising one ormore diazotrophic, phosphosphate-solubilizing and/or biopesticidalmicroorganisms.

48. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more nutrients,optionally one or more vitamins (e.g., vitamin A, vitamin B complex(i.e., vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂, vitamin B₃, vitamin B₅, vitamin B₆,vitamin B₇, vitamin B₈, vitamin B₉, vitamin B₁₂, choline) vitamin C,vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene,cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene and/or zeaxanthin), macrominerals (e.g.,calcium, iron, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and/orsodium), trace minerals (e.g., boron, cobalt, chloride, chromium,copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and/orzinc) and/or organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,malic acid and/or taurine).

49. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more growth media,optionally YEM media, mannitol yeast extract, glycerol yeast extract,Czapek-Dox media and/or potato dextrose broth.

50. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises one or more agriculturallyacceptable anti-freezing agents, optionally ethylene glycol, glycerin,propylene glycol and/or urea.

51. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein said inoculant composition comprises a trace amount of water.

52. The composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs, wherein saidinoculant composition comprises, consists essentially of or is a liquid.

53. The composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs, wherein saidinoculant composition comprises, consists essentially of or is anamorphous liquid.

54. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein at least about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more ofsaid one or more microbial spores remain viable when said inoculantcomposition is stored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relative humidityfor a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64,68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more.

55. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein at least about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more ofsaid one or more microbial spores remain viable when said inoculantcomposition is coated on a plant propagation material.

56. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein at least about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more ofsaid one or more microbial spores remain viable when said inoculantcomposition is coated on a plant propagation material and stored at 0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39 and/or 40° C. and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96,100, 104 weeks or more.

57. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein at least about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁰ colony-forming units ofsaid one or more microbial spores per gram and/or milliliter of saidinoculant composition remain viable when said inoculant composition isstored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84,88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more, optionally at least 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵,1×10⁶, 1×10⁷ or more colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter ofsaid inoculant composition.

58. The inoculant composition of any one of the preceding paragraphs,wherein at least about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁰ colony-forming units ofsaid one or more microbial spores per seed remain viable when saidinoculant composition is coated on a seed and stored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or40° C. and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75,80, 85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28,32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100,104 weeks or more, optionally 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷ or morecolony-forming units per seed.

59. A coated plant propagation material, comprising, consistingessentially of, or consisting of:

a plant propagation material; and

a coating that covers at least a portion of an outer surface of saidseed, said coating comprising, consisting essentially of, or consistingof the inoculant composition of any one of claims 1-58.

60. The coated plant propagation material paragraph 59, wherein saidcoating comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an innercoating layer that comprises said microbial spores and an outer coatinglayer that is devoid of said microbial spores.

61. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-60, wherein said coating comprises, consists essentially of or is anamorphous liquid.

62. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-60, wherein said coating comprises, consists essentially of or is anamorphous solid.

63. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-62, wherein said coating comprises about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁵colony-forming units of said microbial spores, optionally 1×10¹, 1×10²,1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹²or more colony-forming units.

64. The coated plant propagation material any one of paragraphs 59-63,wherein said plant propagation material is a seed.

65. The coated plant propagation material of paragraph 64, wherein saidseed is a monocot seed.

66. The coated plant propagation material of paragraph 64, wherein saidseed is a dicot seed.

67. The coated plant propagation material of paragraph 64, wherein saidseed is a leguminous seed.

68. The coated plant propagation material of paragraph 64, wherein saidseed is a non-leguminous seed.

69. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyAmaranthaceae, optionally chard, spinach, sugar beet, or quinoa.

70. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyAsteraceae, optionally artichoke, asters, chamomile, chicory,chrysanthemums, dahlias, daisies, echinacea, goldenrod, guayule,lettuce, marigolds, safflower, sunflowers, or zinnias.

71. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyBrassicaceae, optionally arugula, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts,cabbage, cauliflower, canola, collard greens, daikon, garden cress,horseradish, kale, mustard, radish, rapeseed, rutabaga, turnip, wasabi,watercress, or Arabidopsis thaliana.

72. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyCucurbitaceae, optionally cantaloupe, cucumber, honeydew, melon,pumpkin, squash (e.g., acorn squash, butternut squash, summer squash),watermelon, or zucchini.

73. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyFabaceae, optionally alfalfa, beans, carob, clover, guar, lentils,mesquite, peas, peanuts, soybeans, tamarind, tragacanth, or vetch.

74. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyMalvaceae, optionally cacao, cotton, durian, hibiscus, kenaf, kola, orokra.

75. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the family Poaceae,optionally bamboo, barley, corn, fonio, lawn grass (e.g., Bahia grass,Bermudagrass, bluegrass, Buffalograss, Centipede grass, Fescue, orZoysia), millet, oats, ornamental grasses, rice, rye, sorghum, sugarcane, triticale, or wheat.

76. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyPolygonaceae, optionally buckwheat.

77. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyRosaceae, optionally almonds, apples, apricots, blackberry, blueberry,cherries, peaches, plums, quinces, raspberries, roses, or strawberries.

78. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familySolanaceae, optionally bell peppers, chili peppers, eggplant, petunia,potato, tobacco, or tomato.

79. The coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-64, wherein said plant propagation material is of the familyVitaceae, optionally grape.

80. A kit, comprising:

the coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs 59 to 79;and

a container housing said coated plant propagation material.

81. The kit of claim 80, wherein said container reduces the amount ofambient light that reaches said coated plant propagation material byabout 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95 or 100% when sealed.

82. The kit of any one of paragraphs 80-81, wherein said containerreduces the amount of ambient oxygen that reaches said plant propagationmaterial by about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70,75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% when sealed.

83. The kit of any one of paragraphs 80-82, wherein said containercomprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a material havinglight permeability of less than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15,20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75%.

84. The kit of any one of paragraphs 80-83, wherein said containercomprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a material having anoxygen transmission rate of less than about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300,325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, or 500 cm³/m²·day (as measured inaccordance with ASTM D3985).

85. The kit of any one of paragraphs 80-84, wherein said kit furthercomprises one or more oxygen-absorbing compound, optionally activatedcarbon, iron powder, sodium chloride, ferrous carbonate, one or moremetal halide catalysts and/or sodium hydrogen carbonate.

86. A plant treated with the inoculant composition of any one ofparagraphs 1-58.

87. A plant germinated from the coated plant propagation material of anyone of paragraphs 59-79.

88. A plant part harvested from the plant of any one of paragraphs86-87.

89. A processed product produced from the plant part of paragraph 88.

90. A crop comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of aplurality of the plant or plant part of any one of paragraphs 86-88.

91. A method, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of:

applying the inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 1-58 to aplant propagation material.

92. The method of paragraph 91, further comprising planting said plantpropagation material in a growth medium, optionally soil.

93. The method of paragraph 92, wherein said plant propagation materialis planted in soil in which plants of the same genus were cultivated inat least one of the three years prior to said planting, optionally ineach of the one, two or three years immediately preceding said planting.

94. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-93, wherein said inoculantcomposition is applied to the plant propagation material at the time ofplanting.

95. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-93, wherein said inoculantcomposition is applied to the plant propagation material at least 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42,45, 48 hours or more prior to planting.

96. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-93, wherein said inoculantcomposition is applied to the plant propagation material at least 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88,92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more prior to planting.

97. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-93, wherein said inoculantcomposition is applied to the plant propagation material about 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 months or moreprior to planting 98. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-97, whereinsaid plant propagation material is a seed.

99. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-97, wherein said plantpropagation material is a monocot seed.

100. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-97, wherein said plantpropagation material is a dicot seed.

101. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-97, wherein said plantpropagation material is a leguminous seed.

102. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-97, wherein said plantpropagation material is a non-leguminous seed.

103. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Amaranthaceae, optionally chard,spinach, sugar beet, or quinoa.

104. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Asteraceae, optionally artichoke,asters, chamomile, chicory, chrysanthemums, dahlias, daisies, echinacea,goldenrod, guayule, lettuce, marigolds, safflower, sunflowers, orzinnias.

105. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Brassicaceae, optionally arugula,broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, canola,collard greens, daikon, garden cress, horseradish, kale, mustard,radish, rapeseed, rutabaga, turnip, wasabi, watercress, or Arabidopsisthaliana.

106. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Cucurbitaceae, optionallycantaloupe, cucumber, honeydew, melon, pumpkin, squash (e.g., acornsquash, butternut squash, summer squash), watermelon, or zucchini.

107. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Fabaceae, optionally alfalfa,beans, carob, clover, guar, lentils, mesquite, peas, peanuts, soybeans,tamarind, tragacanth, or vetch.

108. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Malvaceae, optionally cacao,cotton, durian, hibiscus, kenaf, kola, or okra.

109. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Poaceae, optionally bamboo,barley, corn, fonio, lawn grass (e.g., Bahia grass, Bermudagrass,bluegrass, Buffalograss, Centipede grass, Fescue, or Zoysia), millet,oats, ornamental grasses, rice, rye, sorghum, sugar cane, triticale, orwheat.

110. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Polygonaceae, optionallybuckwheat.

111. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Rosaceae, optionally almonds,apples, apricots, blackberry, blueberry, cherries, peaches, plums,quinces, raspberries, roses, or strawberries.

112. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein said plantpropagation material is of the family Solanaceae, optionally bellpeppers, chili peppers, eggplant, petunia, potato, tobacco, or tomato.

113. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-98, wherein plantpropagation material seed is of the family Vitaceae, optionally grape.

114. A method comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of:

planting the coated plant propagation material of any one of paragraphs59-79 in a growth medium, optionally soil.

115. The method of any one of paragraphs 91-114, further comprisingapplying the inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 1-94 to theplant that grows from the plant propagation material.

116. A method of enhancing the stability and/or survivability of one ormore microorganisms in a composition, comprising, consisting essentiallyof, or consisting of:

adding one or more protectants to said composition, said one or moreprotectants comprising:

-   -   one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose        and/or glucose;    -   one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or        trehalose;    -   one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins        (e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively)        having a DEV value of about 15 to about 20;    -   one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol,        sorbitol and/or xylitol;    -   one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/or        sodium humate;    -   one or more hygroscopic polymers, optionally one or more        albumins, alginates, celluloses, gums (e.g., cellulose gum, guar        gum, gum arabic, gum combretum, xantham gum), methyl celluloses,        nylons, pectins, polyacrylic acids, polycarbonates, polyethylene        glycols (PEG), polyethylenimines (PEI), polylactides,        polymethylacrylates (PMA), polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols        (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP), propylene glycols, sodium        carboxymethyl celluloses and/or starches;    -   one or more oxidation control components, optionally one or more        antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl        stearate, calcium ascorbate, one or more carotenoids, lipoic        acid, one or more phenolic compounds (e.g., one or more        flavonoids, flavones and/or flavonols), potassium ascorbate,        sodium ascorbate, one or more thiols (e.g., glutathione, lipoic        acid and/or N-acetyl cysteine), one or more tocopherols, one or        more tocotrienols, ubiquinone and/or uric acid) and/or one or        more oxygen scavengers, optionally ascorbic acid and/or sodium        hydrogen carbonate; and/or    -   one or more UV protectants, optionally one or more        lignosulfites.

117. The method of paragraph 152, wherein said one or more protectantscomprises, consists essentially of, or consists of:

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucroseand/or trehalose;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol,sorbitol and/or xylitol;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/orsodium humate;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more oxidation control components, optionallyascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more monosaccharides, optionally arabinose, fructose and/orglucose, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or morelignosulfites;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humate and/or sodiumhumate;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more oxidation control components, optionally ascorbic acidand/or glutathione;

one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose,and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or more lignosulfites;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more sugar alcohols,optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more humic acids, optionallypotassium humate and/or sodium humate;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more oxidation controlcomponents, optionally ascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more more maltodextrins, optionally one or more maltodextrins(e.g., one or more maltodextrins (each and/or collectively) having a DEVvalue of about 15 to about 20, and one or more UV protectants,optionally one or more lignosulfites;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more humic acids, optionally potassium humateand/or sodium humate;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more oxidation control components, optionallyascorbic acid and/or glutathione;

one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitoland/or xylitol, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one or morelignosulfites; or

one or more oxidation control components, optionally ascorbic acidand/or glutathione, and one or more UV protectants, optionally one ormore lignosulfites.

118. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-117, wherein said one ormore protectants is added until it comprises about 0.0001 to about 10%(by weight) of said composition, optionally about 2 to about 6% (byweight) of said composition, optionally about 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002,0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07,0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2,2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10% (byweight) of said composition.

119. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-118, wherein said one ormore protectants is added in an amount sufficient to ensure that atleast about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more of saidmicrobial spores remain viable when said inoculant composition is storedat 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36,40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104weeks or more.

120. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-119, wherein said one ormore protectants is added in an amount sufficient to ensure that atleast about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more of saidmicrobial spores remain viable when said inoculant composition is coatedon a plant propagation material.

121. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-120, wherein said one ormore protectants is added in an amount sufficient to ensure that atleast about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95% or more of saidmicrobial spores remain viable when said inoculant composition is coatedon a plant propagation material and stored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 25,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relativehumidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56,60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more.

122. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-121, wherein said one ormore protectants is added in an amount sufficient to ensure that atleast about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁵ colony-forming units of said microbialspores per gram and/or milliliter of said inoculant composition remainviable when said inoculant composition is stored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relativehumidity for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56,60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more,optionally at least 1×10¹, 1×10², 1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷,1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹² or more colony-forming units pergram and/or milliliter of said inoculant composition.

123. The method of any one of paragraphs 116-122, wherein said one ormore protectants is added in an amount sufficient to ensure that atleast about 1×10¹ to about 1×10¹⁵ colony-forming units of said microbialspores per seed remain viable when said inoculant composition is coatedon a seed and stored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and/or 40° C. and 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85% or more relative humidity for a period of 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84,88, 92, 96, 100, 104 weeks or more, optionally 1×10¹, 1×10², 1×10³,1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 1×10¹² or morecolony-forming units per seed.

124. The method of any of paragraphs 116-123, further comprising:

adding one or more dispersants to said composition.

125. The method of paragraph 124, wherein said one or more dispersantscomprises:

one or more anionic surfactants, optionally one or more alkylcarboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl amido ethersulfates, alkyl aryl polyether sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl amide sulfonates, alkyl arylsulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl diphenyloxide sulfonate,alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, paraffinsulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates,alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamates, alkylsulfoacetates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acylsarconsinates, acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates,N-acyl-N-alkyltaurates, benzene sulfonates, cumene sulfonates, dioctylsodium sulfosuccinate, ethoxylated sulfosuccinates, lignin sulfonates,linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, monoglyceride sulfates,perfluorobutanesulfonate, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phosphate ester,styrene acrylic polymers, toluene sulfonates and/or xylene sulfonates

one or more cationic surfactants, optionally one or morealkyltrimethylammonium salts, cetylpyridinium chloride, benzalkoniumchloride, benzethonium chloride, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane,dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide,dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and/or octenidine dihydrochloride;and/or

one or more non-ionic surfactants, optionally one or more alcoholethoxylates, alkanolamides, alkanolamine condensates, carboxylic acidesters, cetostearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cocamide DEA,dodecyldimethylamine oxides, ethanolamides, ethoxylates of glycerolester and glycol esters, ethylene oxide polymers, ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide copolymers, glucoside alkyl ethers, glycerol alkylethers, glycerol esters, glycol alkyl ethers, glycol alkylphenol ethers,glycol esters, monolaurin, pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ethers,poloxamer, polyamines, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polysorbate,polyoxyethylenated fatty acids, polyoxyethylenated mercaptans,polyoxyethylenated polyoxyproylene glycols, polyoxyethylene glycolsorbitan alkyl esters, polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycolcopolymers, polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, polyvinylpynolidones, sugar-based alkyl polyglycosides, sulfoanylamides, sorbitanfatty acid alcohol ethoxylates, sorbitan fatty acid ester ethoxylates,sorbitan fatty acid ester and/or tertiary acetylenic glycols; and/or

one or more wetting agents, optionally one or more naphthalenesulfonates, optionally one or more alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, one ormore isopropyl naphthalene sulfonates and/or one or more butylnaphthalene sulfonates.

126. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 124-125, whereinsaid one or more dispersants comprises one or more polyoxyethylene alkylethers, one or more acrylic copolymers, one or more polyoxyethylenesorbitan trioleates and/or one or more secondary alcohol ethoxylates.

127. The method of any one of claims 116-123, further: adding one ormore non-aqueous microbial extracts to said composition.

128. The method of paragraph 127, wherein said one or more non-aqueousmicrobial extracts comprises:

one or more Bacillus extracts, optionally an extract of media comprisingB. amyloliquefaciens D747, B. amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-50349, B.amyloliquefaciens TJ1000, B. amyloliquefaciens FZB24, B.amyloliquefaciens FZB42, B. amyloliquefaciens IN937a, B.amyloliquefaciens IT-45, B. amyloliquefaciens TJ1000, B.amyloliquefaciens MBI600, B. amyloliquefaciens BS27 (deposited as NRRLB-5015), B. amyloliquefaciens BS2084 (deposited as NRRL B-50013), B.amyloliquefaciens 15AP4 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6507), B.amyloliquefaciens 3AP4 (deposited as ATCC PTA-6506), B.amyloliquefaciens LSSA01 (deposited as NRRL B-50104), B.amyloliquefaciens ABP278 (deposited as NRRL B-50634), B.amyloliquefaciens 1013 (deposited as NRRL B-50509), B. amyloliquefaciens918 (deposited as NRRL B-50508), B. amyloliquefaciens 22CP1 (depositedas ATCC PTA-6508) and B. amyloliquefaciens BS18 (deposited as NRRLB-50633), B. cereus 1-1562, B. firmus 1-1582, B. lichenformis BA842(deposited as NRRL B-50516), B. lichenformis BL21 (deposited as NRRLB-50134), B. mycoides NRRL B-21664, B. pumilus NRRL B-21662, B. pumilusNRRL B-30087, B. pumilus ATCC 55608, B. pumilus ATCC 55609, B. pumilusGB34, B. pumilus KFP9F, B. pumilus QST 2808, B. subtilis ATCC 55078, B.subtilis ATCC 55079, B. subtilis MBI 600, B. subtilis NRRL B-21661, B.subtilis NRRL B-21665, B. subtilis CX-9060, B. subtilis GB03, B.subtilis GB07, B. subtilis QST-713, B. subtilis FZB24, B. subtilis D747,B. subtilis 3BP5 (deposited as NRRL B-50510), B. thuringiensis ATCC13367, B. thuringiensis GC-91, B. thuringiensis NRRL B-21619, B.thuringiensis ABTS-1857, B. thuringiensis SAN 401 I, B. thuringiensisABG-6305, B. thuringiensis ABG-6346, B. thuringiensis AM65-52, B.thuringiensis SA-12, B. thuringiensis SB4, B. thuringiensis ABTS-351, B.thuringiensis HD-1, B. thuringiensis EG 2348, B. thuringiensis EG 7826,B. thuringiensis EG 7841, B. thuringiensis DSM 2803, B. thuringiensisNB-125 and/or B. thuringiensis NB-176;

one or more Bradyrhizobium extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising B. elkanii SEMIA 501, B. elkanii SEMIA 587, B. elkanii SEMIA5019, B. japonicum NRRL B-50586 (also deposited as NRRL B-59565), B.japonicum NRRL B-50587 (also deposited as NRRL B-59566), B. japonicumNRRL B-50588 (also deposited as NRRL B-59567), B. japonicum NRRL B-50589(also deposited as NRRL B-59568), B. japonicum NRRL B-50590 (alsodeposited as NRRL B-59569), B. japonicum NRRL B-50591 (also deposited asNRRL B-59570), B. japonicum NRRL B-50592 (also deposited as NRRLB-59571), B. japonicum NRRL B-50593 (also deposited as NRRL B-59572), B.japonicum NRRL B-50594 (also deposited as NRRL B-50493), B. japonicumNRRL B-50608, B. japonicum NRRL B-50609, B. japonicum NRRL B-50610, B.japonicum NRRL B-50611, B. japonicum NRRL B-50612, B. japonicum NRRLB-50726, B. japonicum NRRL B-50727, B. japonicum NRRL B-50728, B.japonicum NRRL B-50729, B. japonicum NRRL B-50730, B. japonicum SEMIA566, B. japonicum SEMIA 5079, B. japonicum SEMIA 5080, B. japonicum USDA6, B. japonicum USDA 110, B. japonicum USDA 122, B. japonicum USDA 123,B. japonicum USDA 127, B. japonicum USDA 129 and/or B. japonicum USDA532C;

one or more Rhizobium extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising R. leguminosarum SO12A-2;

one or more Sinorhizobium extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising S. fredii CCBAU114 and/or S. fredii USDA 205;

one or more Penicillium extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising P. bilaiae ATCC 18309, P. bilaiae ATCC 20851, P. bilaiae ATCC22348, P. bilaiae NRRL 50162, P. bilaiae NRRL 50169, P. bilaiae NRRL50776, P. bilaiae NRRL 50777, P. bilaiae NRRL 50778, P. bilaiae NRRL50777, P. bilaiae NRRL 50778, P. bilaiae NRRL 50779, P. bilaiae NRRL50780, P. bilaiae NRRL 50781, P. bilaiae NRRL 50782, P. bilaiae NRRL50783, P. bilaiae NRRL 50784, P. bilaiae NRRL 50785, P. bilaiae NRRL50786, P. bilaiae NRRL 50787, P. bilaiae NRRL 50788, P. bilaiaeRS7B-SD1, P. brevicompactum AgRF18, P. canescens ATCC 10419, P. expansumATCC 24692, P. expansum YT02, P. fellatanum ATCC 48694, P. gaestrivorusNRRL 50170, P. glabrum DAOM 239074, P. glabrum CBS 229.28, P.janthinellum ATCC 10455, P. lanosocoeruleum ATCC 48919, P. radicum ATCC201836, P. radicum FRR 4717, P. radicum FRR 4719, P. radicum N93/47267and/or P. raistrickii ATCC 10490;

one or more Streptomyces extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising Streptomyces NRRL B-30145, Streptomyces M1064, S. galbus NRRL30232, S, lydicus WYEC 108 (ATCC 55445), S. violaceusniger YCED 9 (ATCC55660) and/or Streptomyces WYE 53 (ATCC 55750); and/or

one or more Trichoderma extracts, optionally an extract of mediacomprising T. asperellum SKT-1 (ECO-HOPE®, Kumiai Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd., Japan), T. atroviride LC52 (SENTINEL®, Agrimm Technologies Ltd,NZ), T. harzianum T-22 (PLANTSHIELD®, BioWorks Inc., USA), T. harzianumTH-35 (ROOT PRO®, Mycontrol Ltd., Israel), T. harzianum T-39(TRICHODEX®, Mycontrol Ltd., Israel; T. 2000®, Makhteshim Ltd., Israel),T. harzianum ICC012 and T. viride TRICHOPEL (Agrimm Technologies Ltd,NZ), T. harzianum ICC012 and T. viride ICC080 (REMEDIER® WP, IsagroRicerca, Italy), T. polysporum and T. harzianum (BINAB®, BINABBio-Innovation AB, Sweden), T. stromaticum TRICOVAB® (C.E.P.L.A.C.,Brazil), T. virens GL-3, ATCC 58678, T. virens GL-21 T. viride TRIECO®(Ecosense Labs. (India) Pvt. Ltd., India, BIO-CURE® F, T. Stanes & Co.Ltd., India), T. viride TV1 (Agribiotec srl, Italy), T. viride ICC080.

129. The inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 127-128, whereinsaid one or more non-aqueous microbial extracts comprises less than0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2,0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85,0.9, 0.95 or 1% water by weight, based upon the total weight of thecomposition.

130. The method of any one of paragraphs 127-129, wherein said one ormore non-aqueous microbial extracts is added until it comprises about0.1 to about 5% (by weight) of said composition, optionally about 0.1 toabout 2% (by weight) of said composition, optionally about 0.1, 0.15,0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8,0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1,2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6,3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5% ormore (by weight) of said composition.

131. A method, comprising, consisting essentially of or consisting of:

applying the inoculant composition of any one of paragraphs 1-58 to aseed and/or to the plant that grows from said seed;

applying a second composition to said seed and/or to the plant thatgrows from said seed, said second composition comprising:

-   -   one or more agriculturally beneficial microorganisms, optionally        one or more diazotrophs, one or more phosphate-solubilizing        microorganisms, one or more mycorrhizal fungi and/or one or more        biopesticides, optionally one or more biofungicides, one or more        bioinsecticides and/or one or more bionematicides;    -   one or more biostimulants, optionally one or more seaweed        extracts, one or more humic acids, one or more fulvic acids,        myo-inositol and/or glycine;    -   one or more nutrients, optionally one or more vitamins (e.g.,        vitamin A, vitamin B complex (i.e., vitamin B1, vitamin B2,        vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B7, vitamin B8,        vitamin B9, vitamin B12, choline) vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin        E, vitamin K, carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene,        cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene and/or zeaxanthin),        macrominerals (e.g., calcium, iron, magnesium, nitrogen,        phosphorous, potassium and/or sodium), trace minerals (e.g.,        boron, cobalt, chloride, chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine,        iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and/or zinc) and/or        organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,        malic acid and/or taurine);    -   one or more fungicides, optionally one or more of the fungicides        expressly disclosed above;    -   one or more herbicides, optionally one or more of the herbicides        expressly disclosed above;    -   one or more insecticides, optionally one or more of the        insecticides expressly disclosed above;    -   one or more nematicides, optionally one or more of the        nematicides expressly disclosed above;    -   one or more lipo-chitooligosaccharides, optionally one or more        of the lipo-chitooligosaccharides represented by formulas I-IV        and/or one or more of the lipo-chitooligosaccharides represented        by structures V-XXXIII;    -   one or more chitooligosaccharides, optionally one or more of the        chitooligosaccharides represented by formulas XXXIV-XXXV and/or        one or more of the chitooligosaccharides represented by        structures XXXVI-XXXIX,    -   one or more chitinous compounds, optionally one or more chitins        and/or one or more chitosans;    -   one or more flavonoids, optionally one or more anthocyanidins,        such as cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, peonidin        and/or petunidin; anthoxanthins, such as flavones (e.g.,        apigenin, baicalein, chrysin, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, diosmin,        flavoxate, 6-hydroxyflavone, luteolin, scutellarein, tangeritin        and/or wogonin) and/or flavonols (e.g., amurensin, astragalin,        azaleatin, azalein, fisetin, furanoflavonols galangin,        gossypetin, 3-hydroxyflavone, hyperoside, icariin, isoquercetin,        kaempferide, kaempferitrin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, morin,        myricetin, myricitrin, natsudaidain, pachypodol, pyranoflavonols        quercetin, quericitin, rhamnazin, rhamnetin, robinin, rutin,        spiraeoside, troxerutin and/or zanthorhamnin); flavanones, such        as butin, eriodictyol, hesperetin, hesperidin, homoeriodictyol,        isosakuranetin, naringenin, naringin, pinocembrin, poncirin,        sakuranetin, sakuranin and/or sterubin; flavanonols, such as        dihydrokaempferol and/or taxifolin; flavans, such as        flavan-3-ols (e.g., catechin (C), catechin 3-gallate (Cg),        epicatechins (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC) epicatechin 3-gallate        (ECg), epigallcatechin 3-gallate (EGCg), epiafzelechin,        fisetinidol, gallocatechin (GC), gallcatechin 3-gallate (GCg),        guibourtinidol, mesquitol, robinetinidol, theaflavin-3-gallate,        theaflavin-3′-gallate, theflavin-3,3′-digallate, thearubigin),        flavan-4-ols (e.g., apiforol and/or luteoforol) and/or        flavan-3,4-diols (e.g., leucocyanidin, leucodelphinidin,        leucofisetinidin, leucomalvidin, luecopelargonidin,        leucopeonidin, leucorobinetinidin, melacacidin and/or        teracacidin); and/or isoflavonoids, such as isoflavones (e.g,        biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein and/or        glycitein), isoflavanes (e.g., equol, ionchocarpane and/or        laxifloorane), isoflavandiols, isoflavenes (e.g., glabrene,        haginin D and/or 2-methoxyjudaicin), coumestans (e.g.,        coumestrol, plicadin and/or wedelolactone), pterocarpans and/or        roetonoids; and/or one or more analogues, derivatives, hydrates,        isomers, polymers, salts and solvates thereof, such as        neoflavonoids (e.g, calophyllolide, coutareagenin,        dalbergichromene, dalbergin and/or nivetin) and/or pterocarpans        (e.g., bitucarpin A, bitucarpin B, erybraedin A, erybraedin B,        erythrabyssin II, erthyrabissin-1, erycristagallin, glycinol,        glyceollidins, glyceollins, glycyrrhizol, maackiain, medicarpin,        morisianine, orientanol, phaseolin, pisatin, striatine and/or        trifolirhizin);    -   jasmonic acid and/or one or more derivatives thereof;    -   linoleic acid and/or one or more derivatives thereof;    -   linolenic acid and/or one or more derivatives thereof;    -   one or more karrakins, optionally one or more karrakins        represented by formula XXXX;    -   gluconolactone; and/or    -   one or more oxidation control components, optionally one or more        antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl        stearate, calcium ascorbate, one or more carotenoids, lipoic        acid, one or more phenolic compounds (e.g., one or more        flavonoids, flavones and/or flavonols), potassium ascorbate,        sodium ascorbate, one or more thiols (e.g., glutathione, lipoic        acid and/or N-acetyl cysteine), one or more tocopherols, one or        more tocotrienols, ubiquinone and/or uric acid) and/or one or        more oxygen scavengers, optionally ascorbic acid and/or sodium        hydrogen carbonate.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are not intended to be a detailed catalogue ofall the different ways in which the present disclosure may beimplemented or of all the features that may be added to the presentdisclosure. Subjects skilled in the art will appreciate that numerousvariations and additions to the various embodiments may be made withoutdeparting from the present disclosure. Hence, the following descriptionsare intended to illustrate some particular embodiments of the inventionand not to exhaustively specify all permutations, combinations andvariations thereof.

Example 1 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Comprising PenicilliumSpores

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) were stored for four weeks at 40° C.alongside a commercially available wettable powder comprisingPenicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 and RS7B-SD1). As shown in Table1, the survival rate of Penicillium spores was greater in each of thenon-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions than in the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 1 Viable spores after 7 days Inoculant Composition at 40° C.¹ APEG 200 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) 62% B PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores(10% w/w) 51% C PEG 200 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (5% w/w) 44% D PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (5% w/w) 76% E PEG 400 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (5% w/w) 66% F PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (1% w/w) 84% G PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (1% w/w) + 59% SEEDWORX ™ BIO 200 (5% w/w) H PEG 300 + P. bilaiaespores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) + 68% AGRIMER ™ 30 (5%w/w) I PEG 200 + P. bilaiaespores (10% w/w) + TWEEN 85 (5% w/w) 26% JPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TWEEN 85 (5% w/w) 72% K PEG200 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Multiwet MO-70R-LQ (5% w/w) 22% LPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Multiwet MO-70R-LQ (5% w/w) 72%M PEG 200 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (5% w/w) 29% N PEG300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (5% w/w) 63% O PEG 400 +P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (5% w/w) 32% P PEG 300 + P.bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) 62% Q PEG 300 + P.bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) + 84% AGRIMER ™ 30 (5%w/w) R SILWET ™ 806 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) 70% S SILWET ™ 806 +P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 0.1% IRGANOX ® 1010 81% T SILWET ™ 806 +P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 0.5% IRGANOX ® 1010 52% U SILWET ™ 806 +P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 0.1% pentaerythritol 71% V SILWET ™ 806 +P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 0.5% pentaerythritol 59% ControlCommercially available wettable powder comprising P. bilaiae spores 11%¹Expressed as a percentage of the spore content (cfu per gram ofinoculant composition) measured at time zero.

Example 2 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Comprising PenicilliumSpores

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) were stored for four weeks at 40° C.alongside a commercially available wettable powder comprisingPenicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 and RS7B-SD1). As shown in Table2, the survival rate of Penicillium spores was greater in each of thenon-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions than in the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 2 Viable spores after 4 weeks Inoculant Composition at 40° C.¹ WPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 42% TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) +AGRIMER ™ 30 (2.5% w/w) + anhydrous OPTIMIZE ® liquid additive (4.65%w/w) (total water content of the composition <0.1% w/w) X PEG 300 + P.bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + 24% TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) + AGRIMER ™ 30(2.5% w/w) + anhydrous OPTIMIZE ® liquid additive (4.65% w/w) (totalwater content of the composition <0.1% w/w) Control Commerciallyavailable wettable powder  4% comprising P. bilaiae spores ¹Expressed asa percentage of the spore content (cfu per gram of inoculantcomposition) measured at time zero.

Example 3 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Having Enhanced SporeDispersion

The abilities of several non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions andone commercially available wettable powder to disperse Penicilliumbilaiae spores were tested by measuring the ease with which eachinoculant composition could be mixed into 100 ml of water in a 250 mlErlenmeyer flask at 130 rpm on an orbital shaker. As a follow up to thisqualitative testing, the percentage of single spores (compared to clumpsof >2 spores) in each inoculant composition was calculated by observingthe spores under a microscope at 200× magnification. As shown in Table3, each of the non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions exhibitedgreater spore dispersion than the commercially available wettablepowder.

TABLE 3 Single Cells Total Counted Inoculant Composition Spores (% oftotal) F PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 435 94.5 w/w) + TERGITOL ™15-S-9 (1% w/w) D PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 325 95.4 w/w) +TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) E PEG 400 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 565 94.2w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) P PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 36792.1 w/w) + ATLOX 4991 (1% w/w) N PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 45494.7 w/w) + ATLOX 4991 (5% w/w) Y PEG 400 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 40092.3 w/w) + ATLOX 4913 (5% w/w) Con- Commercially available wettablepowder 699 56.8 trol comprising P. bilaiae spores

Example 4 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Comprising BacillusSpores

A non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition comprising spores of Bacillusamyloliquifaciens TJ100 were stored for 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 or 24 weeksat 20° C. or 40° C. alongside a commercially available wettable powdercomprising Bacillus amyloliquifaciens TJ100 spores and then assayed forsurvivability. As shown in FIG. 1, the survival rate of Bacillus sporeswas comparable in the non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions and thecommercially available wettable powder at both 20° C. and 40° C.

Example 5 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-Seed Stability

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated at a rate of 5×10⁴ CFU/seed on corn seeds treatedwith a commercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were storedfor twenty weeks at 10° C. and 50% relative humidity and then assayedfor on-seed survivability. As shown in Table 4, the survival rate of thePenicillium spores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueousliquid inoculant compositions than on seeds coated with the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 4 Viable spores after 20 weeks Inoculant Composition at 10° C. ¹ FPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 32% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) QPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 48% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) +AGRIMER ™ 30 (5% w/w) Con- Commercially available wettable powder  5%trol comprising P. bilaiae spores ¹Expressed as a percentage of thespore content (cfu per seed) measured at time zero.

Example 6 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-Seed Stability

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated at a rate of 5×10⁴ CFU/seed on corn seeds treatedwith a commercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were storedfor twenty weeks at 20° C. and 50% relative humidity and then assayedfor on-seed survivability. As shown in Table 5, the survival rate of thePenicillium spores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueousliquid inoculant compositions than on seeds coated with the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 5 Viable spores after 20 weeks Inoculant Composition at 20° C.¹ FPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 19% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) QPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 16% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) +AGRIMER ™ 30 (5% w/w) Con- Commercially available wettable powder  5%trol comprising P. bilaiae spores ¹Expressed as a percentage of thespore content (cfu per seed) measured at time zero.

Example 7 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-Seed Stability

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated at a rate of 5×10⁴ CFU/seed on corn seeds treatedwith a commercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were storedfor ten weeks at 30° C. and 50% relative humidity and then assayed foron-seed survivability. As shown in Table 6, the survival rate of thePenicillium spores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueousliquid inoculant composition than on seeds coated with the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 6 Viable spores after 10 weeks Inoculant Composition at 30° C.¹ FPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 7% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w)Con- Commercially available wettable powder 4% trol comprising P.bilaiae spores ¹Expressed as a percentage of the spore content (cfu perseed) measured at time zero.

Example 8 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-Seed Stability

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated at a rate of 5×10⁴ CFU/seed on corn seeds treatedwith a commercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were storedfor eight weeks at 30° C. and 50% relative humidity and then assayed foron-seed survivability. As shown in Table 7, the survival rate of thePenicillium spores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueousliquid inoculant composition than on seeds coated with the commerciallyavailable wettable powder.

TABLE 7 Viable spores after 8 weeks Inoculant Composition at 30° C.¹ QPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 5% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) +AGRIMER ™ 30 (5% w/w) Con- Commercially available wettable powder 4%trol comprising P. bilaiae spores ¹Expressed as a percentage of thespore content (cfu per seed) measured at time zero.

Example 9 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-Seed Stability

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated at a rate of 5×10⁴ CFU/seed on corn seeds treatedwith a commercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were stored at50% relative humidity for forty weeks at 20° C. or for five weeks at 40°C. and then assayed for on-seed survivability. As shown in Table 8, thesurvival rate of the Penicillium spores was greater on seeds coated withthe non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions than on seeds coated withthe commercially available wettable powder.

TABLE 8 Viable spores Viable spores after 40 weeks after 5 weeksInoculant Composition at 20° C.¹ at 40° C.¹ D PEG 400 + P. bilaiaespores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) 57% 13% Y PEG 400 + P.bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4913 (5% w/w) 54% 12% Z PEG 300 + P.bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) + 95% 39%IRGANOX ® (0.1% w/w) D PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) +TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) 25% 12% F PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10%w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) 85% 34% H PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores(10% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) + 37% 21% AGRIMER 30 (5% w/w) NPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (5% w/w) 24% 13% PPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) 67% 34% QPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) + 47% 16%AGRIMER ™ 30 (5% w/w) AA PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) + Atlox4991 (1% w/w) + 98% 27% IRGANOX ® (0.1% w/w) Control Commerciallyavailable wettable powder comprising P. bilaiae spores 14%  2%¹Expressed as a percentage of the spore content (cfu per seed) measuredat time zero.

Example 10 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-SeedStability

A non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition comprising Penicilliumbilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) (Table 9) were coated on corn seeds treated with acommercially available pesticide. The coated seeds were stored at 10° C.and 50% relative humidity for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22,26, 30, 32, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50 or 54 weeks and then assayed for on-seedsurvivability. As shown in FIG. 2, the survival rate of Penicilliumspores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueous liquid inoculantcomposition than on seeds coated with the commercially availablewettable powder.

TABLE 9 Inoculant Composition F PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% w/w) +TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) Control Commercially available wettablepowder comprising P. bilaiae spores

Example 11 Stable Non-Aqueous High-Loading Liquid Inoculants ComprisingPenicillium Spores

Non-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium bilaiaespores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) were stored for 52 weeks at 20° C.alongside a commercially available wettable powder comprisingPenicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 and RS7B-SD1). As shown in Table10, the survival rate of Penicillium spores was greater in each of thenon-aqueous liquid inoculant compositions and the commercially availablewettable powder.

TABLE 10 Viable spores after 52 weeks Inoculant Composition at 20° C.¹ EPEG 400 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 33% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) FPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 55% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w) OPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 43% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (5% w/w) P PEG300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 55% w/w) + Atlox 4991 (1% w/w) W PEG 300 +P. bilaiae spores (10% 71% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5% w/w) + AGRIMER ™30 (2.5% w/w) + anhydrous OPTIMIZE ® liquid additive (4.65% w/w) (totalwater content of the composition <0.1% w/w) Control Commerciallyavailable wettable powder 12% comprising P. bilaiae spores ¹Expressed asa percentage of the spore content (cfu per gram of inoculantcomposition) measured at time zero.

Example 12 Stable Non-Aqueous Liquid Inoculants Enhance On-SeedStability

A non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition comprising Penicilliumbilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 and/or RS7B-SD1) and a commercially availablewettable powder comprising Penicillium bilaiae spores (ATCC 20851 andRS7B-SD1) were coated on corn seeds treated with a commerciallyavailable pesticide. The coated seeds were stored at 10° C. and 50%relative humidity for 50 weeks and then assayed for on-seedsurvivability. As shown in Table 11, the survival rate of Penicilliumspores was greater on seeds coated with the non-aqueous liquid inoculantcompositions than on seeds coated with the commercially availablewettable powder.

TABLE 11 Viable spores after 50 weeks Inoculant Composition at 10° C.¹ FPEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10%  4% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (1% w/w)FF PEG 300 + P. bilaiae spores (10% 12% w/w) + TERGITOL ™ 15-S-9 (5%w/w) + AGRIMER ™ 30 (2.5% w/w) + anhydrous OPTIMIZE ® liquid additive(2.5% w/w) (total water content of the composition <0.1% w/w) ControlCommercially available wettable powder 0.3%  comprising P. bilaiaespores

That which is claimed:
 1. A non-aqueous inoculant composition comprisingmicrobial spores, one or more polyethylene glycols, a polyethyleneglycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer, and at least one dispersantselected from the group consisting of vinylpyrrolidone polymers, alcoholethoxylates and naphthalene sulfonates.
 2. The non-aqueous inoculantcomposition of claim 1, wherein said microbial spores comprise about0.1% to about 50% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.3. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein saidmicrobial spores comprise about 5% to about 25% (by weight) of saidnon-aqueous inoculant composition.
 4. The non-aqueous inoculantcomposition of claim 1, wherein said microbial spores comprise about 10¹to about 10¹⁵ colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of saidnon-aqueous inoculant composition.
 5. The non-aqueous inoculantcomposition claim 1, wherein said microbial spores comprise Bacillusspores, Gliocladium spores, Glomus spores, Metarhizium spores,Penicillium spores and/or Trichoderma spores.
 6. The non-aqueousinoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more polyethyleneglycols comprise about 75% to about 95% (by weight) of said non-aqueousinoculant composition.
 7. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim1, wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols comprise PEG 200, PEG300 and/or PEG
 400. 8. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1,wherein a vinylpyrrolidone polymer comprises about 0.001% to about 1%(by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
 9. Thenon-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein a vinylpyrrolidonepolymer comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said non-aqueousinoculant composition.
 10. The non-aqueous inoculant composition ofclaim 1, wherein a naphthalene sulfonates comprises about 0.001% toabout 1% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
 11. Thenon-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein a naphthalenesulfonates comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of saidnon-aqueous inoculant composition.
 12. The non-aqueous inoculantcomposition of claim 1, wherein said non-aqueous inoculant compositionfurther comprises a sugar alcohol.
 13. The non-aqueous inoculantcomposition of claim 1, wherein said non-aqueous inoculant compositionfurther comprises a disaccharide.
 14. A The non-aqueous liquid inoculantcomposition of claim 1, comprising at least one vinylpyrrolidonepolymer, at least one alcohol ethoxylate and at least one naphthalenesulfonate.
 15. The non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 14,wherein said at least one polyethylene glycol comprises about 75% toabout 95% (by weight) of said inoculant composition, wherein said atleast one polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer comprisesabout 0.1% to about 5% (by weight) of said inoculant composition,wherein said at least one vinylpyrrolidone polymer comprises about 1% toabout 10% (by weight) of said inoculant composition, wherein said atleast one alcohol ethoxylate comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (byweight) of said inoculant composition, and wherein said at least onenaphthalene sulfonate comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) ofsaid inoculant composition.
 16. The non-aqueous inoculant composition ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one dispersant comprises avinylpyrrolidone polymer.
 17. The non-aqueous inoculant composition ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one dispersant comprises an alcoholethoxylate.
 18. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1,wherein said at least one dispersant comprises a naphthalene sulfonate.19. A method comprising contacting a plant or plant propagation materialwith the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim
 1. 20. A compositioncomprising a plant seed that is at least partially coated with thenon-aqueous inoculant composition of claim
 1. 21. A method comprisingintroducing the composition of claim 20 into a plant growth medium.